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THE 


LIFE  AND  TIMES 


OF 


THOMAS   CRANMER. 


BY   THE   AUTHOR   OF   "THREE   EXPERI3IENTS   OF   LIVING," 
"LIFE   AND  TIMES   OF   MARTIN    LUTHER,"   &C. 


t 


BOSTON: 

HILLIARD,  GRAY,  AND  COMPANY. 
1841. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  eighteen  hundred  and 
forty,  by  Harrison  Gray,  in  the  Clerk's  office  of  the  District  Court  of 
the  District  of  Massachusetts. 


CAMBRIDGE : 

STEREOTYPED    AND    PRINTED    BY 

FOLSOM,  WELLS,    AND   THURSTON, 

PRINTERS    TO    THE    UNIVERSITY. 


3 


o 


3 


V 


INSCRIBED 


TO  THE 


Hon.  DANIEL   APPLETON   WHITE, 

* 

BY  HIS  FRIEND 
THE    AUTHOR. 


ADVERTISEMENT. 


The  object  of  the  following  biography  is 
not  to  present  any  new  views  or  new  facts 
in  the  life  of  Cranmer.     The  path  is  a  beat- 
en one,  and  so  much  has  been  said  on  this 
subject,  that  it  may  seem  useless  to  add 
another  volume  to  those  which  can  already 
be  collected.     But  who  collects  them,  or 
who  looks  into  the  old  books  of  Fox,  or 
hunts  out  Strype's  "Memorials"?   Or  who, 
we  will  yet  venture  to  ask,  is  familiar  with 
the  events  of  Cranmer's  life?     The  same 
hope,  which  animated  the  author  of  "Luther 
and  his  Times,"  has  stimulated  to  this  at- 
tempt, that  others  may  be  sufficiently  inter- 
ested in  these  sketches  to  induce  them  to 
study  for  themselves  the  histories  of  the  Ger- 
man and  the  English  reformation.     Artists, 
by  taking  different  positions,  give  different 


Vlll  ADVERTISEMENT. 


views  of  the  same  subject,  and  present  us 
with  a  variety  of  pictures,  equally  true  to 
nature.  In  leaving  out  all  polemical  con- 
troversy and  abstruse  doctrines,  and  mere- 
ly viewing  Cranmer  as  connected  with  the 
men  of  his  times,  we  have  sought  to  draw 
a  picture  for  those  who  have  not  leisure  or 
inclination  to  compose  one  for  themselves. 
As  it  is  foreign  to  our  plan  to  introduce 
the  dull  formality  of  notes,  we  mention  here 
some  of  the  books  which  have  been  con- 
sulted in  the  present  work;  viz.  the  old 
(black  letter)  books  of  Fox ;  Strype's  "  Me- 
morials of  Cranmer"  ;  Burnet's  "History  of 
the  Reformation,"  with  the  documents  ap- 
pended ;  Le  Bas's  "  Life  of  Cranmer,"  and 
also  Gilpin's ;  Hume's,  Smollet's,  and  Lin- 
gard's  Histories  of  England.  Other  books 
on  the  subject  have  been  at  hand,  and  in- 
formation has  been  derived  from  miscella- 
neous publications. 


CRANMER  AND   HIS   TIMES. 


CHAPTER  I. 


Henry  the  Eighth  ascended  the  throne  in 
1509,  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  His  father,  Henry 
the  Seventh,  had  left  him  a  well  filled  treasury,  a 
kingdom  at  peace  with  all  the  world,  loyal  sub- 
jects, and  experienced  ministers. 

Henry  united  in  himself  the  claims  of  Lan- 
caster and  York.  Nature  had  given  him  personal 
beauty,  and  he  was  educated  in  the  learning  of 
the  times.  Had  that  learning  been  such  as  the 
education  of  modern  times  presents  to  the  youth- 
ful and  ardent  mind,  a  wholly  different  character 
might  have  been  formed.  But  he  was  doomed  to 
pass  his  early  days  in  the  study  of  abstruse  the- 
ological questions,  considering  learning  as  the 
field  of  polemical  debate,  and  early  enlisting  un- 
der the  banners  of  Thomas  Aquinas.  This 
course  of  education  could  have  but  little  favorable 
influence  in  forming  his  moral  character,  or  in 
cultivating  a  taste  for  high  and  noble  pursuits. 

1 


2  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

In  manly  exercises  and  in  the  accomplishments 
of  the  day,  he  was  said  to  be  well  skilled  ;  but  it 
is  evident  that  the  theory  of  self-education  had 
never  been  inculcated  upon  the  mind  of  the 
youthful  King.  There  is  not  the  distinction, 
which  the  thoughtless  are  apt  to  imagine,  between 
the  high-born  and  the  low.  All  have  a  work  to 
accomplish  for  themselves,  which  no  earthly 
power  can  accomplish  for  them.  The  monarch 
may  become  the  slave  of  his  own  vices,  and  the 
poorest  subject  a  monarch  over  himself.  The 
Universal  Father  does  not  give  to  one  of  his  chil- 
dren bread,  to  another  a  stone,  but  he  gives  to 
all  the  power  of  being  virtuous  ;  and  this  power 
he  has  placed  in  the  soul.  It  is  not  far  that  wre 
have  to  seek  it,  or  long  to  wait  for  it  ;  it  comes  in 
the  form  of  conscience  and  principle,  and,  cher- 
ished, springs  into  action. 

It  has  been  common  to  ascribe  the  low  pur- 
suits of  Henry  to  the  influence  of  Wolsey,  whose 
age  and  experience  undoubtedly  gave  him  domin- 
ion over  the  mind  of  his  royal  master  ;  but  it  was 
his  knowledge  of  character  that  unveiled  to  him 
the  most  effectual  way  of  governing  him,  by  feed- 
ing his  vanity  and  administering  to  his  love  of 
pleasure. 

We  turn  with  disgust  from  the  mansion  of 
Wolsey,  the  early  resort  of  the  King  ;  from  its 
guests,  its  revelry,  its  low  theatrical  exhibitions, 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  3 

its  Syrens  luring  to  destroy,  and  can  with  difficul- 
ty realize,  that  it  was  an  ecclesiastic,  a  son  of  the 
church,  who  presided  over  all. 

It  is  well  known  how  the  subserviency  of  Wol- 
sey  was  rewarded.  He  rose  from  one  degree  of 
distinction  to  another,  till  he  became  prime  min- 
ister. Leo,  the  Pope,  was  not  slow  in  discover- 
ing that  the  minister  ruled  the  king,  and  sought, 
by  conferring  honors,  to  secure  the  services  of 
Wolsey  for  his  own  purposes. 

Wolsey's  titles  multiplied  as  fast  as  his  am- 
bitious desires.  He  was  made  Archbishop  of 
York,  Bishop  of  Durham,  Abbot  of  St.  Albans, 
Lord  Chancellor  of  England,  a  Legate  for  life,  a 
Cardinal,  and  was  caressed  or  feared  by  all  the 
powers  of  Europe.  Ambition  is  never  satisfied, 
till  it  bestrides  the  globe.  There  was  another  ele- 
vation to  which  the  Cardinal  aspired  ;  and  this 
was,  to  be  the  hero  of  the  Vatican,  the  infallible 
head  of  the  church,  and  to  take  charge  of  the 
keys  of  St.  Peter. 

The  Emperor  of  Germany  had  held  out  to 
him  this  last  lure  ;  the  only  one  that  could  still 
excite  his  satiated  desires.  One  obstacle,  how- 
ever, remained.  Leo  was  as  likely  to  live  as 
himself ;  and  Leo's  life  was  now  the  only  obsta- 
cle. 

It  was  with  no  common  degree  of  exultation, 
that  Wolsey  heard  of  the    sudden   death  of  the 


4  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Pope.  The  time  had  arrived,  which  he  had  so 
long  anticipated.  Hitherto,  he  had  been  content- 
ed with  distinguishing  himself  by  his  flowing  robes 
of  silk  and  vestments  of  cloth  of  gold,  by  the  su- 
perb housings  of  his  horses,  by  having  his  cardi- 
nal's hat  borne  before  him  on  a  pillar  of  silver  by 
a  person  of  high  rank,  and  placed  on  the  altar  at 
the  King's  chapel  in  a  reverential  manner.  His 
two  particular  attendants  were  priests,  selected 
for  their  great  personal  beauty.  As  the  Cardinal 
ascended  the  steps  of  the  altar,  they  prostrated 
themselves  on  each  side,  while  the  audience,  with 
his  fifty  personal  attendants,  stood  at  a  respectful 
distance,  not  feeling  worthy  to  approach  the  au- 
gust prelate. 

It  was  observed,  immediately  after  the  news  of 
Leo's  death  arrived,  that  he  appeared  with  more 
pomp  than  usual  on  days  of  public  ceremony. 
The  ensigns  of  his  several  dignities  as  Chancellor 
and  Legate  were  borne  before  him,  he  was  sur- 
rounded by  noblemen  and  prelates,  and  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  long  train  of  mules,  bearing  coffers 
on  their  backs,  covered  with  gold  and  crimson 
cloth. 

This  parade  had  begun  to  pall  upon  his  senses, 
for  he  had  already  passed  f  many  summers  in  a 
sea  of  glory  "  ;  but  now,  he  believed,  he  had 
reached  the  zenith  of  his  ambition.  His  white 
hair   was  to  be  crowned  by  the  jewelled  tiara, 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  5 

and   kings  and   emperors    were    to   acknowledge 
his  supremacy. 

As  suddenly  as  Leo's  death,  arrived  the  news 
of  Adrian's  appointment  to  the  Holy  See,  and 
Wolsey  saw  himself  excluded  from  the  chair  of 
St.  Peter. 

Through  the  prosperous  vicissitudes  of  Hen- 
ry's reign,  Catharine  of  Aragon  had  been  the 
partner  of  his  throne.  She  had  commanded  his 
respect  by  her  virtues,  and  borne  with  his  faults 
with  a  patience  and  forbearance,  that  resulted  from 
principle  and  conjugal  affection,  rather  than  from 
a  gentle  and  indulgent  character.  To  Wolsey 
she  ascribed  many  of  the  wanderings  of  her  hus- 
band, and  spoke  to  him  freely  on  the  subject.  Her 
accusations  were  severe,  and  were  indignantly  re- 
ceived ;  she  reproached  him  with  ministering  to 
the  licentious  pleasures  of  the  King,  and  using  an 
influence  disgraceful  to  a  prelate. 

The  haughty  and  overbearing  Cardinal  could  ill 
endure  this  language  ;  and,  though  he  suppressed 
as  far  as  possible  his  indignation,  Catharine  was 
conscious  he  had  become  her  bitter  enemy. 

Hitherto  Henry  had  borne  in  his  gay  and  jovial 
countenance  the  index  of  his  character.  But  a 
change  seemed  to  have  come  over  him.  His 
face  was  no  longer  clothed  in  smiles  ;  an  expres- 
sion of  care  and  anxiety  clouded  his  brow  ;  sighs 
frequently  arose  ;  his  step  became  slow  and  meas- 


6  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ured.  He  had  taken  great  delight  in  tournaments, 
which  gratified  his  taste  for  magnificence  and  his 
prowess  in  arms.  All  were  now  forbidden  ;  and 
he  was  usually  seen  poring  over  musty  parch- 
ments, with  hose  ungartered  and  head  unkempt. 

Henry  the  Eighth  had  deviated  from  the  aus- 
terity of  his  father's  court.  He  emulated  the  ro- 
mantic gallantry  of  Francis,  the  French  monarch  ; 
but  it  was  uncongenial  to  him,  and  often  his  vio- 
lence and  impetuosity  broke  forth,  even  in  the 
presence  of  the  fair  ladies  of  his  court,  whom 
he  most  wished  to  please.  This  change  from  a 
gay  and  dissipated  course  of  amusements  excited 
much  surprise  and  conjecture. 

At  length  he  announced  the  cause,  —  deep- 
seated  scruples  of  conscience  were  preying  upon 
his  health  ;  he  had,  after  much  investigation  and 
study,  fully  convinced  himself,  that  his  union  with 
Catharine,  who  had  been  betrothed  to  his  brother 
Arthur,  and  whom  he  had  married  as  the  widow  of 
that  prince,  was  sinning  against  the  laws  of  God. 
He  had  collected  many  passages  of  Scripture  to 
prove  the  unholiness  of  the  union,  which  he  said 
was  fully  demonstrated  by  their  having  no  male 
heir  to  the  throne,  the  Princess  Mary  being  their 
only  surviving  child. 

What  must  have  been  Catharine's  sensations 
when  these  scruples  were  announced  to  her  ;  she 
who   had  been  his  wife  for  nearly  twenty  years.! 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  7 

Her  suspicions  rested  immediately  on  Wolsey,  as 
the  instigator  of  this  new-born  tenderness  of  con- 
science. Probably  she  accused  him  wrongfully, 
and  might  better  have  attributed  the  whole  to  the 
caprice  of  Henry's  character.  It  must  be  ac- 
knowledged, that  the  subject  had  been  discussed 
by  learned  prelates  previously  to  the  marriage. 
However  little  inclined  Wolsey  was  to  the  Queen, 
there  seems  to  have  been  no  adequate  motive  for 
thus  stirring  up  his  master's  conscience. 

About  this  time,  or  perhaps  a  little  before  it, 
Henry  met  with  Anne  Boleyn,  the  accomplished 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Boleyn.  She  had  been 
educated  in  France,  and,  on  her  return  to  Eng- 
land, became  maid  of  honor  to  the  Queen.  The 
winning  graces  of  this  lady  were  heightened  by 
the  polish  of  a  French  education,  which  was  al- 
together opposed  to  the  English.  Women  in 
England  of  high  rank  were  usually  educated  in 
nunneries.  They  were  taught  enough  of  reading 
for  religious  exercises,  but  confectionery,  needle- 
work, and,  what  is  somewhat  surprising,  physic 
and  surgery,  came  under  the  head  of  female  ac- 
complishments. *  When  removed  from  these 
seminaries  to  the  houses  of  their  parents,  daugh- 
ters were  placed  standing  at  the  table,  where  they 
ate  their  dinners  like  statues,  and  were   not  per- 

#  This  is  proved  by  a  tract  written  in  the  last  century, 
in  the  "  Antiq.  Repertory." 


8  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

mitted  to  sit,  though  a  cushion  was  usually  placed 
before  them,  on  which  they  were  at  liberty  to 
kneel.  It  is  said,  that,  even  in  Sully's  time,  this 
austerity  was  prevalent  in  France,  and  that  he 
used  to  enjoy  rural  happiness  on  a  bench  in  his 
garden,  just  large  enough  for  himself,  while  his 
family  stood  uncovered,  facing  him.* 

Anne  Boleyn's  natural  vivacity  had  broken 
through  the  restraints  of  the  time.  Henry,  at- 
tracted by  her  beauty,  approached  and  accosted 
her  at  a  tournament,  with  visor  down,  and  masked, 
and  requested  leave  to  wear  her  scarf  of  silver 
tissue.  Being,  or  pretending  to  be,  unconscious 
that  the  King  addressed  her,  she  playfully  re- 
plied ;  "  Nay,  Sir  Knight  ;  do  not  venture  ;  it 
was  given  me  by  a  magician,  and  whoever  wears 
it,  becomes  my  slave  for  life." 

"  That,  I  am,  already  ;  "  said  the  gallant  mon- 
arch ;  and,  forgetting  his  assumed  character, 
reached  forth  his  hand  to  take  it,  with  royal  im- 
punity. 

Anne  hastily  retreated,  saying;  "Nay,  Sir 
Knight ;  were  it  the  King  himself,  he  takes  it 
not  by  force." 

Henry,  unable  to  restrain  his  impetuosity,  drew 
off  his  mask.  Anne,  gently  sinking  on  one  knee, 
disengaged  the  silver  tissue  from  her  neck,  and 
threw  it  over  the  arm  of  the  King. 

*  This  stone  bench  is  preserved  at  Rosny. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  9 

There  is  no  doubt  but  his  scruples  of  con- 
science were  greatly  increased  by  the  charms  of 
Anne,  blooming  in  youthful  beauty.  Catharine 
had  never  been  handsome  or  fascinating.  Time 
had  passed  heavily  over  her  countenance.  She 
had  nothing  to  plead  but  her  faithful  and  untiring 
love,  her  loyal  devotion  to  his  interest.  For 
nearly  twenty  years  she  had  borne  his  wanderings 
without  reproach  ;  she  was  the  mother  of  his 
children,  and  her  heart  was  bound  up  in  the  one 
that  Heaven  had  still  spared  to  them.  For  a  time, 
she  resisted  the  idea  that  he  could  separate  him- 
self from  her  ;  that  he  could  attach  a  stigma 
to  her  name,  and  proclaim  his  child  illegitimate.. 
But  the  unwelcome  truth  was  at  last  forced  upon 
her. 

Henry  now  openly  solicited  the  opinions  of  the 
most  eminent  canonists  and  divines.  He  com- 
posed treatises  himself  on  the  subject,  and  contin- 
ued to  make  proselytes.  With  the  nation  at  large 
his  cause  was  unpopular.  A  queen  is  known  to 
her  subjects.  The  virtues  of  Catharine  were 
calculated  to  awaken  the  interest  of  the  people  ; 
her  cause  was  warmly  espoused,  and,  as  Wolsey 
in  all  other  things  had  been  the  director  of  Hen- 
ry's conscience,  it  was  naturally  supposed  he  was 
so  in  this  ;  and  their  hatred  towards  the  haughty 
and  domineering  Cardinal  was  greatly  increased. 
It  is  said,  however,  that,  when  he  first  announced 


10  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

his  intention  to  Wolsey  of  marrying  Anne  Boleyn, 
the  minister  received  the  information  with  grief 
and  dismay. 

"  I  beseech  your  Majesty,"  said  he,  falling  upon 
his  knees,  "  to  remember  the  disparity  of  her  birth. 
I  confess  to  you,  that  I  have  given  hopes,  that, 
when  the  divorce  is  accomplished,  you  will  place 
the  crown  upon  the  head  of  a  French  princess, 
and  thereby  secure  the  King  of  France  for  a 
warm  ally.  Let  this  Syren  retire  from  the  court, 
and  do  not  bring  upon  yourself  the  disgrace  that 
will  follow." 

"  Ha  !  is  it  so  ?  "  exclaimed  Henry  ;  "  by 
my  kingdom,  the  loons  are  right  ;  this  man  will 

be  king." 

Wolsey,  startled  at  the  anger  of  his  master, 
and  aware  that  on  this  point  he  brooked  no  oppo- 
sition, changed  his  tone  at  once,  and,  as  if  over- 
come by  sudden  conviction,  promised  to  afford  all 
his  aid  to  the  royal  cause.  To  prove  his  zeal, 
he  suggested  to  Henry  the  propriety  of  giving  a 
magnificent  entertainment  at  Greenwich,  nominal- 
ly in  honor  of  foreign  ambassadors,  but  in  reality 
to  facilitate  his  suit  with  Anne.  The  Queen  was 
splendidly  dressed  ;  but  her  diamonds  covered  an 
aching  heart.  A  spectator  of  the  scene  has  left 
his  testimony  of  the  effect  produced  on  himself 
by  the  females.  "  They  seemed  to  all  men  to  be 
rather  celestial  angels,  descended  from  heaven, 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  11 

than  flesh  and  bone.     Surely  to  me,  simple  soul, 
it  was  inestimable."  * 

Anne  was  dressed  with  great  simplicity  ;  her 
beautiful  hair  braided  and  fastened  with  ribbands. 
She  won  many  hearts,  hitherto  rebellious,  by  her 
modest  deportment.  Three  hundred  lances  were 
broken  before  supper  ;  in  the  evening,  the  com- 
pany withdrew  to  the  ball-room,  where  they  were 
entertained  with  an  oration  and  songs,  a  fight  at 
barriers,  and  the  dancing  of  maskers.  About 
midnight,  the  King,  with  six  others,  retired  and 
dressed  themselves  as  Venetian  noblemen,  and 
returned  and  selected  ladies  for  the  dance.  Anne 
Boleyn  was  Henry's  partner. 

It  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  describe  the 
dresses  of  the  King  and  Queen  Catharine,  as  giv- 
en by  an  hisiorian  of  the  day  at  their  coronation. 

"  His  grace  wared  in  his  upperst  apparels  a 
robe  of  crimsyn  velvet,  furred  with  armyns  ;  his 
jacket  or  cote  of  raised  gold  ;  the  placard  em- 
broidered with  diamonds,  rubies,  emeraudes, 
greate  pearles,  and  other  riche  stones  ;  a  greate 
bauderike  (collar)  aboute  his  necke,  of  large  bal- 
asses  (rubies). 

"  The  Quene  was  appareled  in  white  satyn 
embrodered  ;  her  hair  hangyng  down  to  her 
backe,  of  a  very  greate  lengthe,  bewtefull    and 

*  Cavendish. 


12  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

goodly  to  behold,  and  on  her  hedde  a  coronall, 
set  with  many  riche  Orient  stones." 

Alas  !  poor  Catharine  !  she  then  little  thought 
that  the  superb  coronal  was,  during  her  lifetime, 
to  be  placed  on  the  head  of  another. 

In  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  great  pro- 
gress had  been  made  in  the  fashion  of  dress. 
During  the  reign  of  Henry  the  Seventh,  it  was 
grotesque  and  fantastic,  and  is  thus  described  by 
the  same  historian. 

"  Over  the  breeches  was  worn  a  petticoat  ;  the 
doublet  was  laced  like  the  stays  of  a  woman, 
across  a  stomacher,  and  a  gown  or  mantle  with 
wide  sleeves  descended  over  the  doublet  and  pet- 
ticoat down  to  the  ancles.  Commoners  were 
satisfied,  instead  of  a  gown,  with  a  frock  or  tunic, 
shaped  like  a  shirt,  gathered  at  the  middle,  and 
fastened  round  the  loins  by  a  girdle,  from  which  a 
short  dagger  was  generally  suspended.  But  the 
petticoat  was  rejected  after  the  accession  of  Hen- 
ry the  Eighth,  and  trousers  or  tight  garments  that 
displayed  the  symmetry  of  the  limbs,  were  re- 
vived, and  the  length  of  the  doublet  and  mantle 
diminished.  The  fashions  which  the  great  have 
discarded  are  often  retained  by  the  lower  orders, 
and  the  form  of  the  tunic,  or  Saxon  garment, 
may  be  still  discovered  in  the  wagoner's  frock  ; 
of  the  trause,  and  perhaps  of  the  petticoat,  in  the 
different  trousers  that  are  worn  by  seamen.    These 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  13 

habits  were  again  diversified  by  minute  decora- 
tions and  changes  of  fashion.  From  an  opinion 
that  corpulence  contributes  to  dignity,  the  doublet 
was  puckered  and  distended  around  the  body  ; 
and  the  sleeves  were  swelled  into  large  ruffs. 
The  doublet  and  breeches  were  sometimes  slash- 
ed, and,  with  the  addition  of  a  short  cloak  and  a 
stiffened  cap,  resembled  the  national  dress  of  the 
Spaniards.  Among  gentlemen,  long  hair  was 
fashionable,  till  Henry  cut  off  his  own,  and  or- 
dered his  courtiers  to  'poll  their  heads.'  He  al- 
so made  sumptuary  laws,  to  regulate  the  inordi- 
nate dress  of  his  subjects.  Cloth  of  gold  or  tis- 
sue was  reserved  for  dukes  and  marquises  ;  if  of 
a  purple  color,  for  the  royal  family.  Silks  and 
velvets  were  restricted  to  commoners  of  wealth 
and  distinction  ;  but  embroidery  was  interdicted 
from  all  beneath  the  degree  of  an  earl.  Instead 
of  pockets,  a  loose  pouch  was  worn  at  the  gir- 
dle." 


14  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Wolsey  afterwards  gave  an  entertainment  to 
the  ambassadors.  "  The  company  were  sum- 
moned by  a  trumpet  to  supper,  and  the  courses 
were  announced  by  a  prelude  of  music.  The 
second  course  contained  upwards  of  a  hundred 
devices  of  subtilties  ;  castles,  churches,  animals, 
warriors  jousting  on  foot  and  on  horseback  ;  oth- 
ers dancing  with  ladies  ;  all  as  well  counterfeited 
as  the  painter  should  have  painted  on  a  cloth  or 
wall." 

Such  entertainments  were  not  of  short  dura- 
tion ;  the  dinner  hour  was  eleven  in  the  forenoon, 
the  supper  six  in  the  evening  ;  but  the  dinner  was 
often  prolonged  till  supper,  and  that  protracted 
till  late  at  night.  Breakfast  consisted  of  brawn, 
jellies,  sweetmeats,  ale,  brandy,  and  spiced  wine. 
Wolsey  dined  with  a  state  that  even  the  nobility 
did  not  assume.  His  table  was  elevated  fifteen 
steps  at  the  upper  end  of  the  hall,  and,  in  serving 
his  dinner,  the  monks  at  every  fifth  step  sung  a 
hymn.  He  sat  at  the  middle  of  the  table,  to 
the  ends  of  which  his  guests  of  distinguished 
rank  were  admitted  ;  and  the  monks,  after  their 


CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES.  15 

attendance  was  over,  sat  down  to  tables  at  the 
sides  of  the  hall,  and  were  served  with  similar 
respect  by  the  novices. 

When  we  hear  of  kings  and  emperors,  we  natu- 
rally attach  something  of  the  luxury  of  the  present 
times  to  our  idea  of  their  style  of  living.  If  we 
go  back,  however,  to  ancient  records,  royalty  is 
stripped  of  its  pageantry.  Margaret,  on  her 
marriage  with  James  the  Fourth,  made  her  public 
entry  into  Edinburgh,  riding  behind  her  consort 
on  a  pillion.  Hampton  Court,  which  was  built  by 
Wolsey,  and  presented  to  Henry  the  Eighth,  af- 
fords no  description  of  elegant  furniture.  Hen- 
ry's chamber  would,  in  the  present  day,  have 
strangely  contrasted  with  our  common  sleeping- 
rooms.  We  do  not  read  of  any  carpet.  Prob- 
ably the  floor  was  strewed  with  clean  rushes  ; 
and  these  were  a  luxury,  if  we  take  Erasmus's 
description  of  English  habits.  He  says  ;  "Their 
floors  are  composed  of  clay,  and  covered  with 
sand  or  rushes,  foul  and  loathsome  ;  "  and  he  even 
goes  so  far  as  to  attribute  the  visitations  of  the 
plague  to  this  cause.  A  bed,  a  cupboard,  a 
joint-stool,  a  small  mirror,  and  a  large  pair  of 
andirons,  were  the  only  furniture  of  the  regal 
apartment. 

When  we  are  told  of  Henry's  love  of  chivalry, 
of  his  jousts  and  tournaments,  we  must  not  asso- 
ciate  with    his  habits   or   manners    the   romantic 


16  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

gallantry  of  the  troubadours,  or  even  of  his  con- 
temporary Francis.  The  fair  sex  were  not  in- 
vested by  his  imagination  with  spiritual  beauty. 
He  considered  them  as  born  for  his  amusement 
and  pleasure.  Even  when  aiming  at  the  char- 
acter of  a  preux  chevalier^  he  could  not  control 
the  impetuosity  of  his  temper.  A  slight  opposi- 
tion to  his  royal  wishes  stripped  him  of  his  as- 
sumed disguise,  and  discovered  at  once  that  he 
considered  the  lady  of  his  homage  in  no  other 
light  than  the  creature  of  his  will.  Who  at  this 
crisis  does  not  tremble  for  Anne  Boleyn.  Edu- 
cated among  a  nation  whose  morals  were  essen- 
tially defective,  full  of  natural  gayety,  conscious 
of  her  charms,  and  concealing  in  her  heart  that 
ambition  and  that  love  of  splendor  which  are  fatal 
to  the  truth  and  tenderness  of  the  female  character, 
she  had,  however,  one  safeguard  remaining.  She 
was  attached  to  Percy  ;  and  it  was  necessary  that 
the  tyranny  of  the  King  should  be  exerted  to 
prevent  their  intercourse.  The  parents  were 
compelled  to  oppose  the  union ;  and,  when  Percy 
married  another,  in  compliance  with  his  father's 
commands,  Anne  lost  the  security  she  had  de- 
rived from  virtuous  affection. 

There  cannot  be  a  more  melancholy  picture 
to  contemplate,  than  the  history  of  this  winning 
and  thoughtless  girl.  Had  Henry  found  no 
other  agents  for  his  cause   than  his  fascinations, 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TOIES.  17 

either  of  mind  or  person,  she  would  have  trod  the 
mazes  of  a  court  with  a  firm  and  dignified  step  ; 
but,  in  her  own  secret  ambition,  he  discovered  an 
effectual  promoter  of  his  wishes.  When  we  find 
such  encomiums  as  the  following  passed  upon  her 
by  her  advocates,  we  cannot  but  fear,  that  she  at 
once  understood  and  favored  the  suit  of  the  King. 

u  He  liked  to  try  of  what  temper  the  regard 
of  her  honor  was,  which,  he  finding  not  any  way 
to  be  tainted  with  those  things  his  kingly  majeslie 
and  means  could  bringe  to  the  batterie,  he  in  the 
end  fell  to  win  her  by  treaty  of  marriage  ;  and 
in  this  talk  took  from  her  a  ring  and  that  ware 
upon  his  littel  finger  ;  yet  al  this  with  such  a  se- 
cresie  was  carried,  and  on  her  part  so  wisely,  as 
none  or  verie  few  esteemed  this  other  than  an  or- 
dinarie  course  of  dalliance." 

Letters  from  the  King,  written  in  French,  to 
Anne  Boleyn,  were  stolen  from  her,  and  convey- 
ed to  the  Vatican  at  Rome.  Copies  of  them 
wrere  procured  by  Bishop  Burnet  afterwards,  and 
have  been  translated  and  published.* 

Anne  professed  to  be  displeased  with  the  atten- 
tions of  the  monarch.  It  was  asserted,  that  "  she 
stood  stil  upon  her  guard,  and  was  not  easily 
taken  with  all  this  aparance  of  happiness  :  where- 
of two  things  appeared  to  be  the  causes  :  the  one, 

*  Appendix  to  Burnet's  "History  of  the  Reformation." 
2 


18  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  love  she  bore  ever  to  the  Queen,  whom  she 
served,  that  was  also  a  personage  of  greate  virtue  ; 
the  other,  her  conceit,  that  this  was  not  that  free- 
dom of  conjunction  with  one  that  was  her  lord 
and  king,  as  with  one  more  agreeable  to  her." 

The  rumor  of  Henry's  intended  divorce  must 
have  early  reached  her  ear  ;  and,  if  she  aspired 
to  the  throne,  she  must  have  been  sensible,  that 
she  could  only  obtain  it,  by  the  total  ruin  of 
Catharine's  happiness.  To  resist  the  royal  suit, 
however,  seems  to  have  been  beyond  her  moral 
strength.  Nor  can  we  be  surprised,  when  we 
reflect  that  "  images  of  splendor  and  greatness 
were  the  objects  first  presented  to  her  infant  eyes  ; 
and  it  was  one  of  the  earliest  lessons  imprinted 
on  her  mind,  that  they  could  scarcely  be  obtained 
at  too  dear  a  price." 

Catharine  soon  perceived  the  secret  intelligence 
between  her  husband  and  Anne.  Her  observa- 
tion, when  she  was  playing  at  cards  with  the 
young  beauty,  has  been  recorded.  It  was  a  rule 
in  the  play  to  stop  on  turning  up  a  king  or  queen. 
It  came  to  Anne's  luck  often  to  stop  at  a  king, 
upon  which  the  Queen  said,  somewhat  pointedly  ; 
"  My  lady  Anne,  you  have  good  luck  to  stop  at 
a  king  ;  but  you  are  not  like  others  ;  you  will 
have  all  or  none." 

The  time  soon  arrived  when  the  unhappy 
queen  could  no  longer  be  ignorant  or  doubtful ; 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  19 

yet  she  seems  to  have  conducted  towards  her  ri- 
val with  gentleness  and  dignity. 

Wolsey  was  placed  in  a  most  perplexing  dilem- 
ma. Ignorant,  at  first,  of  the  King's  desire  to 
seat  Anne  upon  the  throne,  and  supposing  the 
pleasure  he  took  in  her  society  was  merely  a  light 
affair  of  dalliance,  he  prepared  great  banquets  and 
high  feasts,  to  entertain  the  King  with  her  at  his 
own  house.  Catharine  could  not  but  be  inform- 
ed of  the  Cardinal's  subserviency  to  his  master's 
wishes,  and  her  dislike  towards  him  was  greatly 
heightened  by  this  conduct.  Anne  for  a  time 
seems  to  have  considered  him  her  warm  friend  ; 
and  copies  of  her  letters  to  him  are  still  extant,  in 
which  such  expressions  as  the  following  are  fre- 
quently interspersed  ;  "  And  next  unto  the  King's 
grace,  of  one  thing  I  make  you  full  promise  to 
be  assured  to  have  it,  and  that  is,  my  hearty  love 
unfeignedly  during  my  life." 

When  the  King  first  communicated  his  inten- 
tion of  raising  Anne  to  the  throne,  the  Cardinal 
received  the  intelligence  with  evident  dismay. 
Her  disposition  to  favor  the  Lutheran  cause  was 
openly  avowed.  She  had  sometimes  seriously, 
and  sometimes  playfully,  argued  with  the  King 
against  the  mother  church.  Wolsey's  pride,  too, 
was  incensed  at  the  idea  of  acknowledging  for 
his  roval  mistress,  one  whom  he  considered  as 
in  an    inferior    station  ;   yet   he    too    well   knew 


20  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

his  master's  humor  to  venture  any  open  opposi- 
tion. 

By  his  activity  in  procuring  the  divorce,  he  had 
felt  entitled  to  be  consulted  about  another  alliance. 
Henry  was  too  determined,  or  too  wary,  to  trust 
him  with  his  secret,  and  Wolsey  found,  that, 
while  he  had  been  promoting  what  he  considered 
an  affair  of  gallantry,  he  had,  in  reality,  been  ele- 
vating Anne  to  the  throne. 

There  is  one  circumstance  which  cannot  be 
omitted,  as  it  had  a  tendency  to  increase  Wolsey's 
aversion  to  the  marriage.  Anne  was  constantly  in 
the  habit  of  reading  heretical  books,  which  had 
been  proscribed  by  Cardinal  Wolsey,  and  she  usu- 
ally marked  those  passages  that  most  excited  her 
admiration.  These  were  generally  opposed  to  the 
Catholic  persuasion.  A  book,  thus  marked,  was 
purloined  from  her  apartment  and  carried  to 
Wolsey.  He,  now  believing  the  ruin  of  the 
young  heretic  certain,  delivered  it  in  triumph  to 
Henry.  So  far  from  expressing  indignation,  the 
King  not  only  pardoned  her,  but  consented  to 
look  over  the  book  with  her. 

The  delay,  which  the  Pope  threw  in  the  way 
of  the  divorce,  is  well  known.  When  he  could 
no  longer  protract  his  interference,  he  despatched 
Cardinal  Campeggio  to  the  English  court,  and  at 
length  the  King  and  Queen  were  summoned,  and 
the  trial  commenced.     Part  of  the  noble  speech 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  21 

of  the  Queen  is  faithfully  given  by  the  immortal 
bard,  and  too  well  known  to  need  a  repetition  ; 
but  she  goes  on  to  say  ; 

"  The  King,  your  father,  was  a  man  of  such 
an  excellent  wit  in  his  time,  that  he  was  recounted 
a  second  Solomon  ;  and  the  King  of  Spain,  my 
father,  Ferdinand,  was  taken  for  one  of  the  wisest 
kings  that  reigned  in  Spain  these  many  years.  So 
they  were  both  wise  men  and  noble  princes  ;  and 
it  is  no  question  but  they  had  wise  counsellors  of 
either  realm,  as  be  now  at  this  day,  who  thought 
not,  at  the  marriage  of  you  and  me,  to  hear  what 
new  devices  are  now  invented  against  me,  to  stand 
to  the  order  of  this  court.  And  I  conceive  you 
do  me  much  wrong  ;  nay,  you  condemn  me  for 
not  answering,  having  no  counsel  but  such  as  you 
have  assigned  me  ;  you  must  consider  that  they 
cannot  be  indifferent  on  my  part,  being  your  own 
subjects,  and  such  as  you  have  made  choice  of 
out  of  your  own  Council,  whereunto  they  are 
privy,  and  dare  not  disclose  your  pleasure." 

It  is  well  known,  that,  after  she  had  made  her 
protest,  she  left  the  court ;  and,  though  summoned 
to  return,  positively  refused. 

The  testimony  Henry  gave  to  her  character, 
after  her  departure,  seems  to  have  been  called 
forth  by  the  dignity  of  her  demeanor.  "  She 
hath  been  always  a  true  and  obedient  wife." 

The  appeal  made  by  the  King  to  the    Pope 


22  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

was  highly  embarrassing  to  him.  Catharine  was 
aunt  to  the  Emperor,  Charles  the  Fifth,  whom 
he  greatly  feared  to  offend.  Of  Henry,  too, 
who  had  obtained  from  Leo  the  title  of  "  De- 
fender of  the  Faith,"  he  stood  almost  equally  in 
awe.  His  only  resource  was  to  procrastinate  and 
place  obstacles  in  the  way. 

Cardinal  Campeggio,  after  his  arrival  in  England, 
used  many  arguments  to  persuade  the  King  to  re- 
nounce his  intentions.  At  this  attempt,  Henry 
was  greatly  enraged,  and  said,  it  was  evident  that 
the  Pope  had  sent  him  to  confirm,  rather  than  an- 
nul, his  marriage.  Campeggio  then  showed  him  a 
bull,  in  which  the  Pope  had  granted  the  divorce, 
if  matters  could  not  be  brought  to  a  friendly  con- 
clusion. This  bull,  however,  he  acknowledged, 
was  only  to  be  shown  to  the  King  and  Wolsey, 
and  not  to  be  trusted  out  of  his  own  hands.  He 
entreated  the  King  not  to  be  precipitate  in  the 
affair,  as  great  advantages  might  be  taken  from 
that,  by  the  Queen's  party  ;  that,  therefore,  it 
was  fit  to  proceed  slowly  ;  but  he  assured  him, 
that  the  decision  would  finally  be  according  to 
his  wishes. 

At  length,  after  many  adjournments,  the  court 
sat  to  decide  the  matter,  and  Gardiner,  who  was 
the  head  of  the  King's  Council,  desired  sentence 
might  be  given.  Both  the  King  and  Anne  Bo- 
leyn  were  sanguine,  at  this  crisis,  that  no  further 
obstacles    would    be    made  to  their  union  ;  and 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  23 

Henry  stationed  himself  in  an  adjoining  room, 
where  he  could  have  the  pleasure  of  hearing  the 
sentence  pronounced.  What  was  his  indignation, 
when  Campeggio  declared,  that  the  court  must  be 
adjourned  till  October,  (it  was  then  July,)  as  no 
causes  could  be  heard  in  vacation  time,  according 
to  the  rules  of  the  Consistory  of  Rome. 

It  soon  became  evident  that  Wolsey  was  losing 
confidence  and  favor  with  the  King,  who  sus- 
pected that  much  of  this  delay  arose  from  his  ill 
offices.  It  does  not  appear  that  he  had  any  cause 
for  this  suspicion  ;  but,  unfortunately  for  the  Car- 
dinal, with  all  the  deception  he  had  practised,  he 
was  not  able  to  counterfeit  upright  and  undevi- 
ating  principle  ;  and  neither  the  monarch  nor  the 
favorite  could  have  had  much  confidence  in,  or 
respect  for,  the  other.  Seven  months  had  passed 
since  Campeggio's  arrival,  and  Henry  found  him- 
self no  nearer  obtaining  a  divorce,  than  when  he 
first  arrived.  Yet  his  passion  for  Anne  did  not 
decline  on  account  of  the  obstacles  placed  in  his 
path.  He  took  the  decisive  step  of  dismissing 
Catharine  to  Greenwich,  and  sent  for  Anne  to 
return  to  the  Court.  She  had  judiciously  with- 
drawn to  her  father's  house.  It  was  said,  that  she 
returned  with  reluctance,  and  only  yielded  to  the 
entreaties  of  her  father.  Henry  gave  her  a  splen- 
did establishment,  and  apartments  richly  furnished, 
and  exacted  the  utmost  deference  towards  her 
from  his  courtiers. 


24  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 


CHAPTER  III. 

While  not  only  England,  but  Europe,  was 
agitated  by  this  important  question  of  the  divorce, 
a  minor  affair  took  place  in  Jesus  College,  Cam- 
bridge, which  excited  some  attention. 

Thomas  Cranmer,  a  young  man  of  ancient 
family,  a  fellow  of  the  College,  forfeited  his  fel- 
lowship by  his  marriage.  Though  only  twenty- 
three,  he  had  distinguished  himself  by  his  tal- 
ents, and  was  much  esteemed  for  the  virtues  of 
his  character.  His  separation  from  the  College, 
which  became  necessary  according  to  the  reg- 
ulations, was  greatly  regretted  by  the  friends  of 
learning. 

The  early  education  of  Cranmer  had  inured 
him  to  discipline.  The  most  approved  school  in 
the  neighbourhood  was  held  by  the  parish-clerk, 
whose  manners  naturally  partook  of  the  rudeness 
and  barbarity  of  the  age.  To  this  the  boy  was 
sent.  Though  his  disposition  was  mild,  and  his 
habits  studious,  he  could  not  escape  the  tyrannical 
and  domineering  cruelty  of  the  pedagogue.  His 
father,  however,  did  not  confine  him  to  the  in- 
struction of  the  school-master,  but  had  him  edu- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  25 

cated  in  gentlemanly  exercises,  shooting,  hunting, 
and  hawking.  He  was  also  skilled  in  horseman- 
ship ;  and,  in  mature  life,  when  his  dignities  and 
honors  crowded  upon  him,  he  still  retained  his 
fondness  for  shooting  with  the  cross-bow,  and  his 
skill  and  fearlessness  in  managing  the  wildest 
horses.  He  lost  his  father  early,  and,  at  fourteen, 
his  mother  sent  him  to  study  at  Cambridge,  in  the 
year  1503. 

In  reading  the  history  of  distinguished  men, 
maternal  influence  is  often  traced.  A  widowed 
mother,  who  consummates  her  early  lessons  by 
giving  up  her  only  son,  her  solace  and  her  joy, 
for  his  advantage,  and,  perhaps,  toils  to  supply 
the  means  for  his  education,  unaided  and  alone, 
not  only  affords  him  the  best  example  of  disin- 
terestedness, but  the  strongest  incitement  to  virtue 
and  improvement.  Cranmer  appears  to  have 
determined  to  turn  to  their  best  uses  the  opportu- 
nities offered  to  him;  and,  though  he  was  imme- 
diately initiated  in  the  "  dark  riddles  "  of  the  age, 
his  own  good  sense  led  him  at  length  to  a  differ- 
ent course  of  study.  Erasmus  was  a  resident  in 
the  University,  and  Cranmer  soon  became  famil- 
iar with  the  works  of  this  accomplished  scholar. 
A  new  impulse  was  given  to  his  mind.  He  en- 
tered the  walks  of  ancient  and  classic  literature, 
and  made  himself  master  of  the  Greek  and  He- 
brew languages.     When  Cranmer  began  to  write, 


26  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

he  earnestly  studied  his  books,  and  u  bent  himself 
to  try  out  the  truth  herein."  He  read  with  his 
pen  in  hand,  and  constantly  marked,  or  copied 
out,  what  particularly  arrested  his  attention.  The 
intellectual  treasures,  which  he  in  this  way  ac- 
quired, were  in  after  life  an  exhaustless  mine  of 
wealth. 

Such  a  young  man  could  not  fail  of  being  es- 
teemed ;  and,  when  his  marriage,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-three,  obliged  him  to  relinquish  his  fellow- 
ship in  the  College,  it  was  deeply  regretted. 
He  was  solicited,  however,  to  fill  a  humbler 
place  in  Buckingham  College.  Of  his  marriage, 
there  is  little  recorded.  The  early  death  of  his 
wife,  the  same  year  they  were  married,  left  him  a 
widower,  and,  contrary  to  general  usage,  he  was 
again  elected  a  fellow  of  his  College. 

When  Wolsey  was  selecting  men  of  talents 
and  learning  for  his  College  at  Oxford,*  he  offered 
Cranmer  a  fellowship  ;  but  Cranmer  declined  it, 
and  preferred  remaining  where  he  was. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  the  King,  seeking 
to  beguile  the  weariness  which  arose  from  the 
postponement  of  his  marriage  with  Anne  Boleyn, 
made  several  excursions  to  the  country-seats  of 
his  courtiers.  At  Mr.  Cressy's,  in  Waltham,  a 
town  where  the  King  rested,  Cranmer  was  then 
residing  with  two  of  that  gentleman's  sons  ;  they 

*  Wolsey  founded  Christ  Church  College. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  27 

were  driven  from  the  College  by  an  infectious  dis- 
order.    Among  Henry's  attendants,  were  Fox, 
the  royal  almoner,  and,  subsequently,   Bishop  of 
Hereford,    and   Gardiner,  afterwards  Bishop   of 
Winchester,  who  lodged  at  Mr.  Cressy's.    They, 
knowing  Cranmer's  fame  for  learning,  requested  his 
opinion  of  the  divorce.    He  at  once  declared  that 
he  considered  the  marriage  contrary  to  the  laws 
of  God.     "  The  method,"  said  Cranmer,  u  to  be 
pursued,  seems  to  me  a  simple  one,  and  would 
bring  the  matter  to  an  issue."     They  all  eagerly 
inquired  what  he  meant.    "  It  is,"  replied  he,  "  to 
collect  the  opinions  of  all  the  universities  in  Europe 
on  this  one  question  ;    c  Is  it  lawful  to  marry  a 
brother's  wife  ? '     Their  approbation  of  the  mar- 
riage will  satisfy  the  King's  scruples  ;  or  their  dis- 
approbation will  bring  the  Pope  to  a  decision." 

When  Henry  was  informed  of  Cranmer's  opin- 
ion, he  was  struck  with  the  proposal  and  exclaim- 
ed, as  it  is  said  Elizabeth  did  many  years  after- 
wards to  one  of  the  Spanish  ambassadors  ;  "  In 
truth,  he  '  has  got  the  right  sow  by  the  ear.'  " 

Cranmer  was  immediately  summoned  to  the 
presence  of  the  King,  and,  after  a  long  conversa- 
tion, being  well  convinced  that  the  learned  doc- 
tor favored  his  views,  he  commanded  him  to  put 
his  sentiments  in  writing. 

"  There  is  one  simple  question,"  said  Cran- 
mer, u  on  which  the  whole  rests.    It  is  not,  Sire, 


28  CRANMER   AND   HIS    TIMES. 

whether  the  Pope's  dispensation,  which  permitted 
you  to  marry  the  widow  of  your  brother,  was 
legal,  or  could  give  legality  to  the  marriage,  but 
simply  whether  such  a  marriage  was  not  contrary 
to  the  divine  commands." 

Henry  resolved  to  adopt  his  plan,  of  consulting 
divines  ;  and,  determining  to  retain  him  counsel- 
lor in  his  service,  placed  him  in  the  family  of 
Thomas  Boleyn,  Earl  of  Ormond  and  Wiltshire, 
the  father  of  Anne.  This  was  undoubtedly  a 
stroke  of  policy  in  the  monarch.  He  was  aware, 
that  Cranmer  would  be  in  the  way  of  receiving 
impressions  favorable  to  his  cause,  as  the  family 
of  the  Earl  would  be  highly  advanced  by  the 
King's  marriage  with  Anne  Boleyn. 

The  Earl  of  Wiltshire  ranked  high  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  countrymen.  Erasmus  knew  him 
well,  and  spoke  of  him  as  a  philosopher,  a  scholar, 
and  well  read  in  the  Scriptures.  He  thus  wrote 
to  him  ;  "I  do  the  more  congratulate  your  hap- 
piness, when  I  observe  the  sacred  Scriptures  to 
be  so  dear  to  a  man,  as  you  are,  of  power,  one  of 
the  laity  and  a  courtier,  and  that  you  have  such 
a  desire  to  that  pearl  of  price." 

Between  the  Earl  and  Erasmus  there  was  a 
strong  friendship.  "  The  world  is  beholden  to 
this  noble  peer  for  some  of  the  labors  that  pro- 
ceeded from  the  pen  of  that  most  learned  man," 
particularly  "  Directions  how  to  prepare  for 
Death." 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  29 

During  Cranmer's  residence  in  this  family,  the 
powers  of  his  mind  and  the  social  qualities  of  his 
disposition  were  fully  called  forth.  With  the 
Countess  and  Lady  Anne  he  had  a  pleasant  and 
easy  intercourse  ;  with  the  Earl,  serious  and 
long  conferences  on  important  matters.  When 
the  Earl  was  absent,  they  corresponded  together. 
In  a  letter  from  Cranmer,  dated  at  Hampton 
Court,  in  the  month  of  June,  1530,  he  wrote  to 
the  Earl,  that  "  The  King's  Grace,  my  Lady 
his  wife,  my  Lady  Anne  his  daughter,  were  in 
good  health  ;  and  that  the  King  and  my  Lady 
Anne  rode  the  day  before  to  Windsor,  from 
Hampton  Court,  and  that  night  they  were  looked 
for  again  there  ;  praying  God  to  be  their  guide." 

Can  we  judge  Anne  harshly  when  we  find  such 
a  man  as  Cranmer  promoting  the  unrighteous 
cause  ?  She  had  listened  to  him  with  reverence 
on  religious  subjects,  and  imbibed  the  spirit  of 
the  speaker.  Probably  if  any  twinges  of  con- 
science had  hitherto  admonished  her  when  she 
thought  of  her  gracious  mistress  and  Queen,  they 
were  now  silenced. 

Cranmer  wrote  his  book,  and  was  appointed  to 
dispute  with  certain  learned  men  on  the  subject 
of  the  divorce  in  both  of  the  Universities.  By 
his  learning  and  authority  he  brought  over  many 
to  his  opinion,  and  Henry  determined  to  send  him 
on  an  embassy  to  Germany.     To  give  the  dignity 


30  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

of  high  rank  to  this  embassy,  he  united  with  him 
the  Earl  of  Wiltshire. 

With  some  difficulty,  an  answer  had  been  pro- 
cured from  Oxford  and  Cambridge  in  favor  of  the 
divorce.  The  decisions  of  the  Italian  and  French 
universities  had  also  been  obtained  to  the  same 
effect.  The  opinion  of  Erasmus  was,  with  his 
usual  caution,  withheld,  and  he  would  not  commit 
himself  by  any  written  documents  or  public 
avowal.  The  German  reformers  were  ready  to 
allow,  that  the  Pope  had  no  power  to  authorize  a 
marriage  contracted  in  opposition  to  the  will  of 
God,  but  they  could  not  entirely  agree  that  this 
marriage  came  within  that  description  ;  and  Lu- 
ther, when  applied  to,  boldly  said,  he  "  would 
sooner  allow  a  man  two  wives,  than  to  repudiate 
one  with  whom  he  had  lived  in  the  holy  bonds  of 
matrimony  for  twenty  years." 

In  the  year  1530,  Dr.  Cranmer  began  his 
embassy  in  company  with  the  Earl  of  Wilt- 
shire, a  man  well  known  abroad,  and  already 
doubly  conspicuous  as  the  father  of  Anne  Boleyn, 
whose  name  was  now  often  coupled  with  the 
King's.  They  first  directed  their  course  to  Italy, 
and  had  several  interviews  with  the  Pope.*     At 

*  We  cannot  resist  giving  the  following-  amusing  ex- 
tract from  Fox,  in  describing  the  admittance  of  the  am- 
bassadors to  the  Pope. 

"  And  when  the  time  came  that  they  should  come  be- 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  31 

Rome,  Cranmer  remained  several  months,  while 
the  Earl  and  others  repaired  to  the  Emperor 
Charles  the  Fifth. 

Though  hitherto  Cranmer  had  led  the  life  of  a 
schoolman,  he  seems  to  have  had  incipient  quali- 
ties of  a  courtier.  His  deportment  in  his  embas- 
sy was  affable  and   dignified,  nor  did  he  neglect 

fore  the  Pope,  he  was  sitting  on  high,  in  his  cloth  of 
estate,  and  in  his  rich  apparell,  with  his  sandales  on  his 
feete,  offering,  as  it  were,  his  foote  to  be  kissed  of  the 
ambassadors ;  the  Earle  of  Wiltshire,  disdaining  thereat, 
stood  still,  and  made  no  countenance  thereunto,  so  that 
all  the  rest  kept  themselves  from  that  idolatrie. 

"  Howbeit,  one  thing  is  not  here  to  bee  omitted  as  a 
prognosticate  of  our  separation  from  the  See  of  Rome, 
which  then  chanced,  by  a  spaniell  of  the  Earl  of  Wilt- 
shire  When  the  sayd  Bishop  of  Rome 

had  advanced  forth  his  foote  to  be  kissed,  now  whether 
the  spaniell  perceived  the  Bishop's  foote  of  another  na- 
ture than  it  ought  to  be,  and  so  taking  it  for  some  kinde 
of  repast,  or  whether  it  was  the  will  of  God  to  show  him 
some  token  by  a  dogge  of  his  inordinate  pride,  that  his 
feete  were  more  mete  to  be  bitten  by  dogges  than  kissed 
of  Christian  men  ;  the  spaniell  (I  say)  when  the  Bishop 
extended  his  foote  to  be  kissed,  the  dogge  straightway 
went  to  his  foote,  and,  as  some  affirmeth,  took  his  greate 
toe  in  his  mouth.  So  that  in  haste  he  pulled  in  his  glori- 
ous feete  from  the  spaniell  and  after  that  thought  no 
more  at  that  present  for  kissing  his  feete,  but  without 
anie  further  ceremonie  gave  eare  to  the  ambassadours 
what  they  had  to  say."  —  The  Life,  Acts,  and  Story  of 
Dr.  Cranmer,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury. 


32  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  more  minute  means  of  pleasing.  He  was 
found  to  possess  wit  without  sarcasm,  a  happy- 
manner  of  inculcating  morality  and  thought,  and 
so  won  upon  all  who  associated  with  him,  that  the 
Earl  of  Wiltshire,  who  returned  to  England  while 
Cranmer  remained  at  Rome,  informed  Henry,  he 
could  find  no  ambassador  more  accomplished  for 
his  purposes.  The  King,  in  consequence  of 
these  representations,  sent  him  a  commission  with 
instructions  to  be  his  sole  ambassador  to  the  Em- 
peror. The  commissional  letters  were  dated 
January  24th,  1531  ;  in  these  he  styles  Dr.  Cran- 
mer u  Consiliarius  Regius,  et  ad  Csesarem  Ora- 
tor." 

We  now  behold  him  in  his  new  office,  distin- 
guished by  the  favor  of  a  monarch  who  had  been 
considered  as  holding  the  balance  of  Europe, 
gifted  in  himself  with  excellent  personal  advanta- 
ges of  manners,  qualified  to  hold  conferences 
with  the  most  learned  men  of  the  age,  and  actu- 
ally converting  them  to  his  own  view  of  the  cause 
he  had  undertaken.  The  most  important  convert 
was  Cornelius  Agrippa,  counsellor  to  the  Emper- 
or. The  melancholy  fate  of  this  man  was  prob- 
ably the  result  of  his  imprudence  as  much  as  his 
honesty,  as  he  exasperated  the  Emperor  by  his 
gratuitous  opposition  to  his  wishes.  He  was  cast 
into  prison  and  died  there. 

With  Osiander,  the  pastor  of  Nuremberg,  he 


CRANMER  AND  HIS   TIMES.  33 

formed  a  strict  intimacy  ;  and,  at  his  earnest  re- 
quest, passed  much  time  with  him.  Their  con- 
stant interchange  of  sentiments  seemed  to  result 
in  a  union  of  opinion.  Osiander  became  a  con- 
vert to  Cranmer's  view  of  the  King's  marriage, 
and  actually  wrote  a  book  proving  it  unlawful. 
Osiander  was  engaged  in  a  work  upon  the  Gos- 
pels ;  Cranmer  earnestly  exhorted  him  to  go  on 
with  it,  and  assured  him,  that  "  it  would  not  only 
be  of  use  to  the  Church  of  Christ,  but  adorn  it." 
It  was  published  in  1537,  and  dedicated  to  Cran- 
mer. 

In  the  frequent  intercourse  which  existed  be- 
tween these  two  learned  men,  the  study  was  usu- 
ally the  place  of  their  meeting  and  conversation. 
From  this  apartment,  Osiander's  family  were  not 
wholly  excluded.  His  young  niece  was  often  a 
silent  listener  ;  and,  when  they  repaired  to  the 
little  parlour,  she  it  was  that  performed  the  house- 
hold duties  for  the  guests  of  her  uncle. 

Hitherto  Cranmer  had  taken  no  decisive  steps 
in  espousing  the  reformed  religion  ;  but  the  argu- 
ments of  Osiander  came  seasonably  to  the  aid  of 
his  own  mind.  In  setting  up  the  authority  of 
learned  divines  as  equal  to  that  of  the  Pope,  by 
his  advice  to  Henry,  he  sufficiently  proved,  that 
his  views  were  not  to  be  confined  within  the  strict 
enclosure  of  the  mother  church  ;  but  the  time 
had  now  arrived  when  he  was  absolutely  to  defy 

3 


34  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

it,  to  break  through  its  essential  rules,  and  stand 
on  the  same  ground  as  Luther.  It  would  be  un- 
candid  to  ascribe  any  undue  influence  over  his 
opinions  to  the  little  German  maiden  ;  for  it  was 
evident,  that  his  views,  previously  to  leaving 
England,  had  been  greatly  changed.  His  inter- 
course with  German  Protestants  had  facilitated 
this  change,  and,  perhaps,  we  may  venture  to  al- 
low to  the  niece  of  Osiander  the  power  of  invest- 
ing him  with  sufficient  resolution  to  virtually  ab- 
jure the  right  of  the  Pope  in  imposing  on  the 
clergy  any  obligation  to  celibacy.  However  this 
may  be,  she  became  his  second  wife  early  in  the 
following  year. 

We  pause  here  for  a  moment,  as  it  appears  to 
be  the  first  developement  of  Cranmer's  character. 

He  had  been  sent  on  an  embassy  by  the  King, 
which  was  considered  highly  important.  It  was 
his  purpose,  and  had  been  his  desire,  to  win  all 
hearts  to  the  royal  cause.  By  a  step  like  this,  he 
outraged  the  Catholics,  and  spent  much  of  his 
time  in  the  "  primrose  path  of  dalliance."  It 
does  not  appear,  however,  that  Henry  felt  any 
dissatisfaction  with  his  ambassador  when  he  re- 
turned to  England.  That  he  himself  did  not 
consider  the  step  he  had  taken  a  judicious  one 
was  proved  by  his  leaving  his  wife  in  Germany. 

It  was  highly  honorable  to  the  Protestants  at 
this  time,  that  they  threw  aside  all  party  feelings, 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  35 

and  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  Catharine. 
They  were  loud  in  expressions  of  indignation  at 
the  wrongs  of  an  injured  and  faithful  wife  ;  and 
the  German  reformers  who  had  defied  the  Pope 
and  the  Emperor,  now  enlisted  under  their  ban- 
ners in  defence  of  an  insulted  and  broken-hearted 
woman.  There  cannot,  however,  be  any  doubt, 
that  Cranmer  embraced  the  cause  of  the  King  in 
the  full  conviction  that  it  was  a  righteous  one. 
He  had  been  far  from  obtruding  his  opinion,  and 
shrunk  from  the  office  of  ambassador,  which  the 
King  forced  upon  him.  But,  when  once  engaged 
in  the  cause,  it  was  natural  that  it  should  assume 
magnitude  in  his  view.  He  believed  that  the  fu- 
ture salvation  of  the  King  and  Queen  was  deep- 
ly perilled  by  living  together  in  a  state  that  he  con- 
sidered unholy  ;  and,  in  endeavouring  to  dissolve 
the  union,  he  lost  sight  of  the  sufferings  of  the 
wife,  and  the  rights  of  the  daughter.  He  proba- 
bly, too,  considered,  that  the  manner,  in  which 
this  question  was  settled,  would  have  an  im- 
portant influence  on  the  future  religion  of  the 
country  ;  and  his  mind  had  embraced  too  fully 
the  views  of  the  reformers,  to  submit  to  the 
infallibility  of  the  Pope.  In  his  conversations 
with  Osiander,  he  had  sometimes  quoted  the 
Fathers,  St.  Austin,  St.  Jerome,  and  his  master's 
favorite,  Thomas  Aquinas.  "  Tell  me  not," 
said  the  German,  "  of  the  heroes   of  the   dark 


36  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ages.  Go  to  Peter,  and  Paul,  and  the  great 
teacher  of  Christianity.  Open  your  Bible,  and 
find  there  your  religion."  All  this  correspond- 
ed with  his  early  pursuits.  His  mind  had  been 
awakened,  by  the  study  of  the  Scriptures,  years 
before,  and  he  was  well  prepared  to  enter  the  lists 
of  reform. 

There  is  an  immeasurable  distance,  however, 
between  Luther  and  the  English  reformer.  Lu- 
ther, goaded  on  by  his  conscience,  and  aided  only 
by  the  light  of  his  own  mind,  seizing  upon  truth 
after  truth,  fighting  for  his  cause  against  nations, 
and  achieving  the  victory  by  the  prowess  of  a 
single  arm,  is  a  phenomenon  that  he  explained  ;  — 
u  God  is  on  my  side." 

Cranmer  was  naturally  diffident  and  cautious, 
and  he  appears  to  have  wanted  one  of  the  essen- 
tial components  of  Luther's  character,  enthusi- 
asm. A  life  of  tranquil  duty  and  calm  retirement 
was  all  he  coveted  ;  but  this  cannot  be  allowed 
to  the  favorite  of  a  king,  and  such  he  was  rapidly 
becoming. 

On  his  return,  he  was  offered  the  See  of  Can- 
terbury. This  promotion  he  would  gladly  have 
declined.  The  turbulence  of  the  times  rendered 
the  primacy  an  arduous  and  perhaps  dangerous 
situation.  The  state  of  matrimony,  into  which 
he  had  secretly  entered,  was  wholly  opposed  to 
the  religious  views  of  his  still  Roman  Catholic 
country. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  37 

Another  motive  powerfully  influenced  him. 
It  was  necessary,  in  receiving  the  primacy,  that 
he  should  take  the  oath  of  fidelity  to  the  Pope. 
All  these  were,  in  his  mind,  insuperable  obsta- 
cles. The  King,  however,  did  not  consider  them 
so.  The  oath  was  modified  in  a  mannsr,  that 
saved  the  conscience  of  the  new  archbishop,  and 
concluded  with  an  open  protest,  that  he  felt  him- 
self bound,  on  all  occasions,  to  oppose  the 
Pope's  illegal  authority,  and  condemn  his  errors. 

Cranmer  took  possession  of  the  primacy  in 
1533,  and  secretly  sent  for  his  wife. 

While  these  events  had  been  passing,  Wolsey's 
sun  had  set  to  rise  no  more.  Henry  had  cast 
him  off;  and,  though,  for  a  time,  habit,  or  some 
remains  of  kindly  affections,  induced  him  to  show 
signs  of  returning  favor,  the  Cardinal  felt  too 
surely,  that,  in  proportion  to  Anne's  ascendency, 

had  been  his  own  decline. 

"  All  my  glories 
In  that  one  woman  I  have  lost  for  ever. " 

Such  was  the  favorite's  impression  ;  but  when 
was  a  league  of  pleasure  permanent  ?  Wolsey 
was  no  longer  of  service  to  the  King  ;  he  could 
neither  administer  to  his  passions  nor  his  interest ; 
and,  as  his  views  changed,  and  he  lost  his  rever- 
ence for  the  ancient  faith,  his  ear  opened  willingly 
to  the  tale  of  his  misdeeds.  Wolsey's  worst 
crimes  appear  to  have  been,  his  subserviency  to  a 


38  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

heartless  monarch  ;  his  greatest  offence  to  the 
people,  his  haughty  and  overweening  pride  and 
ambition.  When  arrested  for  high  treason,  it  is 
said,  that  he  discovered  no  signs  of  guilt,  and 
only  asked  to  be  confronted  with  his  accusers. 
On  his  way,  he  was  seized  with  illness,  and 
could  only  reach  a  monastery  ;  as  he  entered  the 
gate,  he  said  to  the  Abbot,  "  Father  Abbot,  I 
am  come  hither  to  lay  my  bones  among  you.': 
His  indisposition  rapidly  increased,  but  he  was 
calm  and  resigned.  He  had  previously  passed 
through  many  stages  of  hope  and  fear,  sometimes 
humbling  himself  to  the  dust,  and  then,  again,  was 
suddenly  elated  by  the  slightest  symptom  of  royal 
favor  ;  but  the  storm  and  the  whirlwind  had  pass- 
ed, and  the  still,  small  voice  of  conscience  was 
whispering  its   admonitions  in  his  ear, 

"  Had  I  but  served  my  God  with  half  the  zeal 
I  served  the  King,  he  would  not  in  mine  age 
Have  left  me  naked  to  mine  enemies." 

He  expired  the  next  morning,  in  the  sixtieth 
year  of  his  age. 

In  reading  the  history  of  Wolsey,  as  penned  by 
Catholics  and  Protestants,  we  must  use  our  own 
judgment.  It  is  probable,  that  there  is  exaggera- 
tion on  both  sides  ;  that  he  had  neither  the  virtues 
attributed  to  him  by  the  one,  nor  the  vices  so  lib- 
erally ascribed  to  him  by  the  other.  It  does  not 
appear  that  either  Catharine  of    Aragon  or  Anne 


CRANMEll    AND    HIS   TIMES.  39 

Boleyn  influenced  his  fate.  In  the  capricious  and 
selfish  character  of  the  monarch,  and  in  the  rest- 
lessness of  his  own  pride  and  ambition,  were 
deeply  planted  the  seeds  of  his  ruin.  Though  it 
was  evidently  Wolsey's  desire  to  establish  the  ec- 
clesiastical supremacy,  and  restore  the  omnipo- 
tence of  the  Pope,  he  seems,  even  in  this  thing, 
to  have  been  looking  forward  to  his  own  eleva- 
tion, and  to  the  dream  of  his  days  and  nights, 
the  chair  of  St.  Peter  ;  for  himself,  he  wished  to 
hedge  it  round  with  colleges  and  institutions. 

Gardiner,  the  defendant  and  confidant  of  Wol- 
sey,  was  not,  as  many  expected,  involved  in  his 
disgrace.  His  fidelity  to  him  seems  to  have  been 
unquestioned.  This  man  possessed  an  uncom- 
mon degree  of  penetration,  a  thorough  knowledge 
of  human  nature  in  its  weakest  and  worst  forms, 
a  capacity  of  accommodating  himself  to  all  char- 
acters, and  an  instinctive  perception  of  what 
would  aid  or  retard  his  own  advancement.  He 
ventured  on  a  game  that  rarely  succeeds  with  the 
most  artful  ;  that  of  allegiance  to  the  Pope  and  to 
the  King,  both  now  bitter  enemies.  Though  in 
his  heart  opposed  to  the  Reformation,  he  promot- 
ed Anne's  marriage,  who,  he  knew,  was  a  zeal- 
ous advocate  for  it.  But  he  trusted  to  his  own 
powers  for  making  all  subservient  to  his  interest. 
Cromwell  was  another  of  Wolsey's  adherents,  and 
undertook  his   defence  in  Parliament.     He  was 


40  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

secretary  to  the  Cardinal,  and  originally  the  son 
of  a  blacksmith.  He  won  the  favor  of  Henry, 
by  the  earnestness  with  which  he  seconded  his 
marriage  with  Anne. 

In  the  office  of  Chancellor,  Wolsey  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Sir  Thomas  More.  His  sanguinary 
measures  must  ever  cast  a  shadow  over  his  excel- 
lent gifts  and  high  qualities.  We  must  not  forget, 
that  the  religion  of  that  period  seems  to  have  par- 
taken but  little  of  the  spirit  of  its  great  founder. 
The  flaming  sword  guarded  its  precincts,  and 
both  Catholics  and  Protestants  sacrificed  their 
victims  upon  its  altars. 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  41 


CHAPTER  IV. 

Very  soon  after  his  consecration,  the  Primate 
was  called  upon  by  Henry  to  pronounce  the  di- 
vorce. Cranmer  had  been  too  deeply  engaged  in 
the  matter  to  feel  any  reluctance  to  utter  this 
final  decision.  We  are  willing  to  believe  that 
history,  rather  than  his  own  heart,  was  silent  on 
the  subject  of  humanity. 

But  it  is  to  be  feared,  that  his  conviction  of 
the  unholiness  of  the  marriage,  his  desire  of  defeat- 
ing the  tyranny  of  the  Pope  and  taking  vigorous 
measures  against  the  Church  of  Rome,  added  to 
his  paternal  affection  for  Anne,  who  had  long 
honored,  respected,  and  imbibed  his  opinions, 
and  who,  he  had  every  reason  to  believe,  would 
prove  a  powerful  agent  in  the  reform  he  was  de- 
sirous of  promoting  ;  —  that  all  these  considera- 
tions acted  powerfully  on  his  feelings,  and  absorbed 
all  tenderness  and  compassion  for  the  unfortunate 
Queen.  It  is  difficult  for  us  to  imagine,  that  a 
good  and  pious  man  should  have  taken  the  decided 
part  he  did  in  this  matter  ;  but  we  are  often  disap- 
pointed in  Cranmer's  character  ;  he  seems  some- 
times to  have  yielded  to  the  urgency  or  impulse 


42  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

of  the  moment,  with  a  want  of  resolution  that  was 
a  melancholy  augury  of  the  future. 

To  give  to  Anne  the  dignity  of  a  title  was 
Henry's  next  object  ;  and  he  determined,  in  defi- 
ance of  all  established  rules,  to  create  her  Mar- 
chioness of  Pembroke.  This  was  done  with 
much  pomp  and  ceremony.  "  She  wore  a  circote 
of  cloth  of  gold,  richly  trimmed  with  crimson, 
and  on  her  head  had  no  other  coif  or  head  geer 
than  her  own  braided  hair.  The  King,  with  his 
royal  hands  placed  on  her  head  the  halfe  coronet, 
and  the  Lady  Mary  Howard  threw  over  her 
shoulders  the  ermine  mantle,  white  as  snowe. 
When  thus  equipped,  she  was  most  beautifull  to 
behold  ;  and  some  of  the  Papistes  sayd,  if  it  were 
only  for  looks  and  comeliness,  she  was  worthy  to 
be  Queene.  The  King  could  not  be  satisfyed 
with  gazing  upon  her." 

Those  who  have  seen  the  picture  of  Anne  will 
easily  credit  this  account.  There  is  a  mixture 
of  playfulness  and  dignity  mingled  in  her  expres- 
sion, that  must  have  been  truly  captivating.  She 
had  now  nearly  reached  the  zenith  of  her  ambi- 
tion ;  the  coronet,  she  was  well  aware,  would 
soon  be  exchanged  for  a  royal  diadem  ;  and  we 
may  without  difficulty  imagine,  that  the  bloom  of 
her  cheek,  and  the  lustre  of  her  eye,  had  acquired 
fresh  brilliancy  as  she  saw  it  hovering  over  her. 


CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES.  43 

The  playfulness  and  freedom  of  her  manner  was, 
at  this  time,  one  of  her  great  charms  in  the  eyes 
of  the  capricious  monarch. 

The  superb  set  of  jewels  sent  to  Anne  by 
the  King  on  this  occasion,  is  thus  recorded  in 
Strype's  Appendix  to  his  "Memorials."  We 
give  it  in  the  ancient  text. 

"  Furste,  One  Carkeyne  of  gold  antique  warke, 
having  a  shielde  of  gold,  set  with  a  great  Rose, 
containing  xij  Dyamants.  One  fayer  table  Dya- 
mant.  One  poynted  Dyamant.  One  table  Ru- 
bye.  One  table  Emerawde.  And  iij  fayer  hing- 
ing perles. 

"  Item,  Another  Carkeyne  of  golde  of  harts 
with  ij  hands  holding  a  great  owche  of  golde,  set 
with  a  great  table  balasse.  One  poynted  dia- 
mant.  Two  table  dyamants  :  Whereof  one  ris- 
ing with  Lozanges,  and  the  other  flat.  And  one 
other  long  lozanged  diamant.  And  iiij  perles,  with 
one  longe  perle  pendaunt. 

"  Item,  Another  Carkeyne  of  golde  enameled 
with  blac  and  white,  with  an  owche  of  golde 
enameled  white  and  blew :  Set  with  a  great 
rockey  Rubye  :  One  rockey  Emerawde  :  One 
pointed  Dyamant :  one  table  Dyamant.  A  harte 
of  a  Dyamant,  rising  ful  of  Lozanges.  And  one 
fayer  hinging  perle. 

"  Item,  Another  Carkeyne  of  lynks  of  gold. 
The  one  enameled  blac,  the  other  gold  :  having  an 


44  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

owche  of  golde,  set  with  a  great  rockey  balasse  : 
Two  smal  table  Dyamants  ;  and  one  Lozanged 
Dyamant.  Five  slight  perles,  and  one  long  perle 
pendaunt  therat. 

u  Item ,  Another  Carkeyne  of  gold,  garnished 
thorowly  with  xxij  coletts  of  dyamants,  con- 
tening  in  al  lxxvij  diamant  smal  and  great :  and 
xliij  perles,  with  an  owche  of  antique,  set  with  xiiij 
dyamants,  one  rockey  Rubye,  and  one  rockey 
Emerawde  ;  and  a  flat  round  hinging  perle. 

"  Item,  Another  Carkeyne  of  golde,  enameled 
blac,  with  an  owche,  set  with  a  fayer  table  balasse, 
and  three  smal  tryangled  dyamants,  and  five 
perles. 

"  Item,  A  George  on  horse  back  :  garnished 
with  xvj  smal  Dyamants.  And  in  the  belly  of  the 
Dragon  a  rockey  perle. 

"  Item,  Another  Carkeyne  of  golde  :  al  blac, 
having  a  George  on  horseback  ;  garnished  with 
xviij  smal  Dyamants.  And  in  the  belly  of  the 
Dragon  a  perle  ragged. 

"  Item,  A  cheyne  of  gold,  of  Spaynishe 
facion,  enameled,  white,  red,  and  black." 

We  are  aware  that  the  above  list  of  articles 
may  want  a  glossary.  The  carkeyne  is  a  collar  ; 
fayer,  fair ;  balasses,  rubies ;  Lozanges,  a  figure 
in  heraldry  denoting  the  arms  of  the  family. 

Soon  after  Anne  was  made  Marchioness  of 
Pembroke,    she   was   privately   married    to   the 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  45 

King,  probably  on  the  25th  of  January,  1532. 
The  ceremony  was  performed  in  the  presence  of 
the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  and  her  father  and  mother. 
At  this  time  there  had  been  no  public  sentence 
of  divorce.  Henry  said  "  there  was  no  need  of 
one  after  so  many  Doctors  and  Universities  had 
decided  for  it." 

It  became  now  a  pressing  matter  that  the  for- 
mer marriage  should  be  declared  null,  and  Catha- 
rine was  urged  to  yield  her  acquiescence  ;  but 
she  positively  rejected  the  idea,  asserting  that 
she  was  Queen  of  England,  and  Henry's  lawful 
wife,  and  rejecting  all  entreaties  and  bribes  ;  and, 
when  urged  to  retire  to  a  nunnery,  protested  that 
she  would  never  take  any  steps  that  might  un- 
queen  herself,  or  render  her  daughter  illegitimate. 
When  it  was  found  that  nothing  would  shake  the 
resolution  of  Catharine,  and  that  she  persisted  in 
saying,  wherever  the  King  sent  her  she  should 
still  be  his  wife,  they  proceeded  to  the  public  sen- 
tence of  the  divorce,  of  which  Cranmer,  in  a 
letter,  gives  the  following  account. 

"  As  touching  the  final  determination  and  con- 
cluding of  the  matter  of  divorce,  between  my 
Lady  Katherine  and  the  King's  grace  :  and  after 
the  convocation  in  that  behalf  had  determined 
and  agreed  according  to  the  former  sentence  of 
the  Universities,  it  was  thought  convenient  by  the 
King  and  his  learned  council  that  I  should  repair 


46  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

to  Dunstable,  and  there  to  call  her  before  me,  to 
hear  final  sentence  in  this  said  matter.  Notwith- 
standing  she   would    not    at    all  obey  thereunto. 

"  On  the  9th  of  May,  according  to  the  said  ap- 
pointment, I  came  to  Dunstable,  my  Lord  of 
Lincoln  being  assistant  to  me."  (Then  follows  a 
list  of  counsellors  for  the  King.)  "And  so  there 
at  our  ccfrning,  kept  a  court  for  the  appearance 
of  the  said  Katherine,  where  we  examined  certain 
witnesses,  who  testified,  that  she  was  lawfully 
cited  and  called  to  appear,  as  the  process  of  the 
law  thereunto  belongeth  ;  which  continued  fifteen 
days  after  our  first  coming  thither.  The  morrow 
after  Ascension  day,  I  gave  sentence  therein, 
how  that  it  was  indispensable  for  the  Pope  to  li- 
cense any  such  marriage." 

Dunstable  was  chosen  because  the  Queen  re- 
sided at  Ampthill,  which  was  so  near  that  she 
could  not  pretend  ignorance.  It  appears,  how- 
ever, that  Catharine  was  above  all  these  arts. 
She  did  not  answer  to  the  citation.  She  had 
uniformly  declared  that  she  would  not  do  it.  We 
can  hardly  imagine  any  other  course  that  she 
could  with  dignity  have  taken.  There  is  some- 
thing that  deeply  moves  our  sympathies  in  her 
conduct.  She  expresses  no  violent  anger  towards 
the  King,  not  even  when  he  sent  Lord  Mountjoy 
to  inform  her  that  she  was  a  divorced  princess, 
and  instructed  him  to  threaten  her,  that,  in  case 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  47 

of  her  persisting  in  her  resolution,  it  might  be  fa- 
tal to  the  succession  of  her  daughter.  She  re- 
plied with  calmness,  "  I  will  never  willingly  sub- 
mit to  such  an  infamy,  or  peril  my  soul  by  con- 
senting to  it.  I  am  the  wife  of  Henry  the 
Eighth.  I  will  never  call  myself  by  any  other 
name,  nor  suffer  my  servants  to  do  it.'; 

There  can  be  no  doubt  but  her  affections  were 
deeply  wounded.  She  had  married  Henry  in  his 
youth,  and,  however  changed  to  every  other  eye, 
to  hers  he  was  the  same.  She  had  been  a  faith- 
ful, humble,  trusting  wife.  What  pangs  must 
she  have  endured,  when  her  resistance  to  Lord 
Mountjoy's  message  was  followed  by  the  informa- 
tion, that  the  King  had  been  privately  married  to 
Anne  Boleyn,  for  several  months  !  Even  then 
she  does  not  seem  to  have  forgotten  her  self- 
respect.  She  replied  to  the  messenger,  when  he 
asked  if  she  had  any  commands,  "  Say  to  the 
King,  I  shall  ever  remain  his  faithful  wife.'5 

Few  die  of  a  broken  heart  ;  but,  we  believe, 
this  unhappy  Queen  was  one  of  the  few.  The 
arrow  had  entered,  and  the  wound  was  deep  and* 
incurable.  She  was  sick,  —  sick  to  the  very 
soul.  She  had  given  the  King  the  best  years  of 
her  life  ;  she  had  meekly  borne  wrongs  that  the 
poorest  peasant  would  have  murmured  at.  She 
still  loved  him,  for  it  is  the  destiny  of  woman  to 
love,  through  ill  treatment,  through  obloquy,  and 


48  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

disgrace.  For  three  years  she  lingered  under  the 
gradual  decay  of  consuming  grief.  But,  happily 
for  her,  the  vital  flame  burned  feebly  ;  it  nickered 
awhile,  and  then  expired  ! 

As  Catharine  approached  her  death,  she  re- 
quested to  see  her  daughter,  who  was  now 
twenty  years  old  ;  Henry  had  the  cruelty  to  re- 
fuse. From  the  time  of  the  divorce,  she  had 
been  separated  from  her  mother.  And  what  was 
her  last  message  to  a  faithless  husband  ?  She 
wrote  thus  ; 

"My  most  dear  Lord,  King,  and  Husband: 
My  last  hour  is  now  approaching.  I  would  fain 
at  this  solemn  moment  impress  upon  you  the  im- 
portance of  religious  duty,  and  the  comparative 
emptiness  of  all  human  grandeur  and  enjoyment. 
Though  your  fondness  towards  these  perishable 
advantages  has  created  much  trouble  to  yourself, 
and  thrown  me  into  many  calamities,  I  truly  for- 
give all  past  injuries,  and  hope  Heaven  will  forgive 
you  as  freely  as  I  do.  I  have  no  request  to  make 
you,  but  commend  to  you  our  infant  daughter, 
the  sole  pledge  of  our  love,  and  my  maids  and 
servants."  Then,  as  if  human  affection  broke 
through  all  restraint,  she  added,  "  I  make  this 
vow,  that  mine  eyes  desire  you  above  all  things." 

We  ask  not  whether  such  a  woman  was  a 
Catholic  or  a  Protestant.  We  feel  that  she  was 
a  Christian,  and  all  our  sympathies  are  enlisted  in 
her  cause. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  49 

When  Henry  received  this  last  proof  of  her 
long  and  tried  affection,  even  he  was  moved,  and 
unbidden  tears  fell  from  his  eyes. 

And  Anne,  —  surely  the  tenderness  of  woman 
must  be  roused.      She  was  the   happy,  the   suc- 
cessful   rival.     There  was  nothing    now   to   fear 
from  indignant  Catholics  or  just  Protestants.    She 
stood  firm  upon  the  throne,  and  might  freely  weep, 
and  lament  the  sorrows  of  her  once  beloved  mis- 
tress.     There   is   surely  no  enmity  in  the  grave  ! 
The  pallid  cheek,  the  sunken  eye,  the  closed  and 
silent  lips,  the  rigid  form,  can  these  awaken  exul- 
tation ?      Would  that  they  could  not ;  but  it  was 
said,   that    Anne    expressed    a   joy  and  triumph 
when  she  heard  of  Catharine's  death,  unbecoming 
the  "  painted  shadow  of  a  queen."     It   may  be, 
that  she  still  saw  some  lingering  tenderness  in  the 
cold-hearted,   selfish   monarch,  towards   the   wife 
of  his  youth.      Such  ties  are  only  broken   com- 
pletely by  hatred   or   contempt  ;  and  neither  of 
these  emotions  could  Henry   conjure    up.     Her 
crime  was,  being  no  longer  young.     Well  might 
Luther  say,  "  What  a  noble  bond  is  formed    be- 
tween man  and  woman,"  when  even  the  whirlwind 
of  passion  could  not  wholly   destroy  it.      "  She 
has  been  to  me  a  most  loving  and  faithful  wife," 
said  the  monarch  ;  "  would   that  my  conscience 
would  allow  me  to  be  at  rest  !  "  alluding  to  her 
marriage  with  his  brother.     If,  as  Catharine  sol- 

4 


50  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

emnly  protested,  she  had  only  been  the  nominal 
wife  of  Arthur,  what  shall  we  say  of  the  odious 
hypocrisy  of  Henry. 

Hitherto,  we  have  seen  in  Anne's  conduct  lit- 
tle to  approve  ;  but  let  us  not  judge  her  too 
harshly.  Early  sent  from  a  mother's  watchful 
care  to  the  French  Court,  allowed  to  mix  with  the 
society  there,  to  sparkle  and  to  dazzle  while  al- 
most a  child,  uninstructed  in  the  ethics  of  our 
days,  which,  at  least,  inculcate  the  beauty  and 
wisdom  of  self-discipline,  her  career  was  a  thought- 
less one  ;  and,  when  she  returned  to  England,  she 
was  placed  again  in  a  court,  as  maid  of  honor 
to  the  British  Queen,  disappointed  in  a  first  love, 
and  taught  that  loyalty  and  ambition  must  go  hand 
in  hand.  Spurred  on  by  her  father,  and  unreprov- 
ed  by  the  Archbishop  who  was  her  model  of  wis- 
dom and  virtue,  may  we  not  rather  be  surprised 
that  her  conduct  was  so  discreet,  as,  in  spite  of 
calumny,  it  appears  to  have  been.  The  King's 
addresses  she  at  first  received  with  coldness,  and, 
more  than  once,  retired  to  her  father's  house, 
and,  let  us  hope,  to  the  arms  of  a  mother,  whose 
counsels  were  true  to  nature.  On  this  subject 
history  is  silent  ;  we  know  nothing  of  the  domes- 
tic education  of  Anne.  But  what  mother  can  be 
found  who  would  willingly  sacrifice  a  daughter  to 
such  a  man  as  Henry  the  Eighth,  at  this  period 
of  his  life,  even  though  he  were  a  monarch  ?    Of 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  51 

her  father,  it  is  recorded,  that  she  went  back  to 
the  Court,  influenced  by  his  tears  and  entreaties. 

The  first  act  of  the  drama  of  Anne's  life  is 
ended  ;  let  us  proceed  to  the  second ;  and  this 
was  her  coronation. 

"On  Saturday,  the  one-and-thirtieth  day  of 
May,  the  Queen  was  conveyed  through  London, 
in  order  as  follows."  We  pass  over  the  greater 
part  of  this  description,  as  the  curious  may  find 
it  in  Stowe,  and  select  only  such  parts  as  may 
be  interesting  to  all.  After  the  long  procession 
of  nobility,  passing  through  streets  hung  with  tis- 
sues of  gold,  velvet,  and  other  rich  hangings,  and 
"  the  windows  replenished  with  ladies  and  gentle- 
men to  behold  the  Queene  as  she  passed,  all 
making  a  goodly  shew,"  came  Anne,  "  in  a  white 
litter  of  white  cloth  of  gold,  not  covered  or  braid- 
ed, which  was  led  by  two  palfreys  clad  in  white 
damask,  down  to  the  ground,  head  and  all,  led  by 
her  footmen  ;  she  had  on  a  kirtle  of  white  cloth 
of  tissue,  and  a  mantle  of  the  same  furred  with 
ermine,  her  hair  hanging  downe,  but  on  her  head 
she  had  a  coif  with  a  circlet  about  it  full  of  rich 
stones  ;  over  her  was  borne  a  canopy  of  cloth  of 
gold,  with  four  gilt  staves,  and  four  silver  belles  ; 
for  bearing  of  the  which  canopy  were  appointed 
sixteen  knights  ;  foure  to  bear  it  in  one  space  on 
foote,  and  four  another  space,  according  to  their 
own  appointment.     Next  after  the  Queene,  rode 


52  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  Lord  Brough,  her  chamberlaine  ;  next  after 
him,  William  Coffin,  master  of  the  horse,  with  a 
side-saddle  trapped  down  with  cloth  of  tissue  ; 
after  him  rode  seven  ladies  in  crimson  velvet, 
turned  up  with  cloth  of  gold  and  tissue,  and  their 
horses  trapped  with  gold."  Then  came  innumer- 
able pageants,  "  one  of  little  children,  apparelled 
like  merchants,  which  welcomed  her  to  the  cittie 
with  two  proper  propositions,  both  in  French  and 
in  English.  From  thence  she  rode  toward  Grace 
Church  corner,  where  was  a  costly  and  marvel- 
lous cunning  pageant  made  by  the  merchants  of 
the  Stillyard.  Therein  was  the  Mount  Parnassus 
with  the  fountain  of  Helicon,  which  was  of  white 
marble,  and  four  streames  without  pipes  did  rise 
an  ell  high,  and  meet  together  in  a  little  cup  above 
the  fountain,  which  fountain  ran  abundantly  with 
rackt  Reynish  wine   till  night."     Much   of   the 

same  pageantry  was  everywhere  exhibited 

"  Then  she  went  forward,  and  passed  the  great 
conduit  in  Cheape  by  a  goodly  fountain  that  ranne 
continually  wyne,  both  white  and  claret,  all  the  af- 
ternoon  The  recorder  came  to  her  with 

low  reverence,  making  a  proper  and  brief  propo- 
sition, and  gave  to  her  in  the  name  of  the  cittie 
a  thousand  markes  in  golde,  in  a  golden  purse, 
which  she  thankfully  accepted  with  many  good 
wordes,  and  so  rode  to  the  conduit,  where  was  a 
rich  pageant  of  melody  and  songs,  in  which  pa- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  53 

geant  were  Pallas,  Juno,  and  Venus,  and  afore 
them  stood  Mercuries,  which  in  the  name  of  the 
three  goddesses  gave  unto  her  a  ball  of  golde  di- 
vided into  three,  signifying  three  gifts  which  these 
three  goddesses  gave  to  her  ;  that  is  to  say,  wis- 
dome,  riches,  and  felicitie." 

"  On  the  first  of  June,  Whitsunday,  the  Queene 
again  appeared  in  procession  to  attend  the  King's 
Chappel.  The  Queene  was  on  this  day  attired  in 
a  circote  and  robe  of  purple  velvet  furred  with 
ermine,  and  her  hair  and  coif  as  it  was  on  Satur- 
day ;  her  train,  which  was  very  long,  was  borne 

by  the  old  Duchess  of  Norfolk When 

she  came  to  the  place  made  for  her  in  the  midst 
of  the  church,  she  was  set  in  a  rich  chair,  where 
she  rested  awhile,  then  went  forward  to  the  altar, 
and  there  prostrated  herself  before  Archbishop 
Cranmer.  He  said  collects,  and  anointed  her 
on  the  head  and  breast.  The  Archbishop  sett 
the  crown  of  St.  Laward  on  her  head,  and  then 
delivered  her  the  sceptre  of  gold  in  her  right 
hand,  and  the  rod  of  ivory  with  the  dove  in  her 
left  hand,  and  then  all  the  choir  sung  Te  Deum, 
&c,  which  over,  the  Bishop  took  off  the  crown 
of  St.  Edward,  being  heavy,  and  set  on  her  head 
the  crown  made  for  her."  An  account  is  added 
of  the  feast,  of  costly  dishes  and  subtilties,  &c.  ; 
but  the  specimen  already  given  of  the  pageantry 


54  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

attending  Anne's  coronation  is  a  small  part  of  it, 
though  probably  enough  for  the  reader. 

We  now  behold  Anne  and  her  father  in  posses- 
sion of  all  they  had  so  long  coveted.  They  had 
reached  the  point  of  human  greatness.  We  must 
follow  her  a  little  further  in  her  history,  —  we 
must  see  her  on  the  English  throne,  gay,  affable, 
and  dispensing  her  sunny  smiles  to  all  around  her. 
Amidst  the  dark  season  of  bigotry  and  persecu- 
tion, she  seerns  to  have  glided  amongst  its  minis- 
ters like  an  angel  of  peace.  Her  mind  wTas  ap- 
parently quick  and  versatile  ;  she  read  with  avid- 
ity Tyndal's  translation  of  the  Scriptures,  and 
others  of  his  works  which  the  Archbishop  put 
into  her  hand,  and  which  were  deemed  heretical. 
She  delighted  in  the  flowing  verses  of  Wyatt, 
and  made  him  her  poet  laureate.  She  spoke 
kindly  to  all  her  attendants,  and,  when  the  princess 
Elizabeth  was  born,  in  less  than  a  year  after  her 
marriage,  she  probably  believed  that  her  happiness 
was  secure. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  55 


CHAPTER  V. 

Soon  after  these  events,  Henry  was  prevailed 
upon  by  Bellay,  Bishop  of  Bayonne,  (who  was 
commissioned  by  Francis,)  to  make  concessions 
to  the  Court  of  Rome.  The  Pope,  who  really 
had  no  wish  to  come  to  extremities  with  England, 
finally  agreed  to  defer  his  sentence  of  excommu- 
nication in  consequence  of  Catharine's  divorce 
and  Henry's  marriage,  and  wait  for  the  submis- 
sion. This  negotiation  in  part  transpired,  and 
gave  doubt  and  alarm  to  Anne  and  her  party. 
Anne  knew  that  she  could  find  no  favor  with  the 
Pope,  and  the  Protestants  were  fully  aware  that 
a  renewal  of  apologies  and  promises  was  a  re- 
newal of  Catholic  bonds. 

Cranmer,  well  acquainted  with  the  obstinacy 
of  Henry,  looked  on  with  dismay,  trusting, 
however,  that  the  reformed  religion  might  yet  be 
protected.  The  messenger  was  despatched  to 
Rome,  and  the  English  Protestants  waited  with 
anxious  feelings  for  the  events  that  were  to  fol- 
low. 

Contrary  winds  detained  the  courier  of  the 
King  beyond   the  time  appointed.     To  the  ex- 


56  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

cited  mind  of  the  Pope,  this  delay  was  a  new  in- 
sult. In  vain  his  counsellors  solicited  him  to 
suspend  the  sentence,  and  suggested  the  possibil- 
ity of  involuntary  detention.  The  Pope  posi- 
tively refused,  and  uttered  the  sentence  of  ex- 
communication against  Henry,  and  England  be- 
came a  Protestant  country  ! 

The  dismay  of  the  Catholic  conclave,  with 
Clement  at  their  head,  may  well  be  imagined  at 
the  arrival  of  the  courier  freighted  with  Henry's 
submission,  two  days  after  the  tremendous  sen- 
tence of  excommunication  had  been  hurled  at  his 
royal  head.  Cranmer  might  well  say  with  Lu- 
ther, "God  is  on  our  side,"  when  he  found  the 
intended  submission  of  the  King  was  rendered 
of  no  avail  by  the  precipitancy  of  the  Pope,  and 
his  zeal  in  the  cause  of  reformation  seems  from 
this  time  to  have  been  unceasing.  The  first  step 
he  proposed,  was,  to  have  the  Scriptures  put  into 
vulgar  or  common  language,  and  liberty  given  to 
all  to  read  them.  Though  this  motion  was  ac- 
ceded to  in  Parliament,  yet  another  was  added  of 
an  opposite  spirit,  and  greatly  vexed  the  Arch- 
bishop. "  That  all  in  whose  possession  were 
books  printed  in  the  vulgar  language,  either  be- 
yond or  this  side  of  the  sea,  of  suspect  doctrine, 
should  be  warned,  within  three  months  to  bring 
them  in  before  certain  persons  appointed  by  the 
King,  under  certain  penalties  to  be  determined  by 


CRANMER  AND  HIS   TIMES.  57 

the  King."  The  Archbishop  had  openly  in  his 
preaching  denied  the  Pope's  jurisdiction  ;  but  in 
March,  1534,  a  bill  was  read  in  the  House  of 
Lords,  setting  forth  the  intolerable  exactions  for 
Peter-pence^  provisions,  pensions,  and  bulls,  which 
were  contrary  to  all  laws,  and  grounded  only  on 
the  Pope's  power  of  dispensing,  which  was 
usurped  ;  for  the  King,  and  the  Lords  and  Com- 
mons only  had  the  right  to  consider  how  the  laws 
might  be  dispensed  with,  or  abrogated,  and  that  the 
King  ought  to  be  considered  the  supreme  head  of 
the  Church.  This  act  was  accepted,  and  the  suc- 
cession to  the  crown  was  secured,  in  another  bill 
passed  a  few  days  after,  to  the  descendants  of 
Queen  Anne,  in  which  all  were  required  "  to 
swear  to  bear  faith,  truth,  and  obedience  alonely 
to  the  King's  majesty,  and  to  his  heirs  of  his 
most  dear  and  entirely  beloved  wife,  Queen 
Anne." 

This  bill  very  naturally  awToke  new  opposition 
among  the  Catholics,  and  new  tumults.  Anne 
had  the  mortification  of  seeing  herself  continually 
styled  the  "  upstart  Queen,"  the  subject  of  coarse 
and  indecent  jests  ;  for  the  English  were  not  at 
that  time  accomplished  in  the  neat  and  pointed 
epigram  of  the  French.  They  pounced  upon 
their  prey,  and  mauled  and  battered  like  any  box- 
ers. Not  contented  with  this  prowess,  their  dissat- 
isfaction began  to  take  a  treasonable  shape,  mak- 


58  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ing  a  woman  by  the  name  of  Anne  Barton  their 
unfortunate  tool. 

This  person  had  been  subject  to  epileptic  fits, 
and,  while  under  their  partial  dominion,  adopted 
a  wildness  and  strangeness  of  denunciation,  that 
has  since  afforded  a  model  for  many  romances. 
Bred  in  the  Roman  Catholic  school,  and  deeply 
sensible  of  the  wrongs  of  Catharine,  she  nat- 
urally turned  her  vituperation  upon  her  succes- 
sor Anne.  More  than  once,  Anne  had,  in  her 
excursions,  heard  the  wild  ravings  of  the  self- 
styled  prophetess.  With  the  curiosity  of  youth, 
she  had  even  paused  to  listen  ;  and,  when  her  at- 
tendants would  have  arrested  or  used  violence 
towards  the  woman,  she  had  ordered  them  to  let 
her  alone.  The  impression  was  a  fleeting  one 
upon  the  Queen's  mind,  and  it  was  not  till  she 
was  styled  the  Maid  of  Kent,  and  her  mission 
"  accredited  by  a  letter  written  in  heaven,  and 
sent  to  her  by  Mary  Magdalene,"  that  the  mad 
woman  was  recalled  to  her  memory. 

Nothing  more  entirely  exhibits  the  darkness  of 
the  age,  than  the  importance  attached  to  this  mis- 
erable woman.  The  King  became  more  espe- 
cially the  object  of  her  predictions.  She  ven- 
tured to  proclaim  that  he  would  die  the  death  of 
a  common  felon.  As  she  resided  within  the 
diocese  of  Cranmer,  he  could  not  remain  igno- 
rant of  her  growing  influence.     For  some  time 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  59 

he  regarded  her  as  Anne  had  done,  as  of  little 
importance  ;  but,  when  her  predictions  took  a  form 
so  treasonable,  and  she  even  fixed  on  a  day  for 
the  death  of  the  King,  he  could  no  longer  remain 
inactive.     There  is  a  letter  of  the  Archbishop's 
still  extant  giving  an  account  of  her.     "  When 
she  was  brought  here  and  laid  before  the  image 
of  our  Lady,  her  face  was  wonderfully  disfigured, 
her  tongue  hanging  out,  and  her  eyes  being  in  a 
manner  plucked  out,  and  laid  upon  her  cheeks  ; 
and  so  greatly  disordered."     Le  Bas,  the  histo- 
rian of  Cranmer,  supposes  she  had  something  of 
the  gift  of  ventriloquism,  for  the  Archbishop  goes 
on  to  say  ;  "  Then  there  was  a  voice  heard  speak- 
ing inwardly,  her  lips  not  greatly  moving  ;  she  all 
that  while  continuing  by  the  space  of  three  hours 
or  more  in  a  trance.     The  which  voice,  when  it 
told  any  thing  of  the  joys  of  heaven,  it  spake  so 
sweetly  and  so  heavenly,  that  every  man  was  rav- 
ished with  the  hearing   thereof.     And  contrary, 
when  it  told  any  thing  of  hell,  it  spake  so  horri- 
bly and  terribly,  that  it  put  the  hearers  in  great 
fear.     It  spake  also  many  things  for  the  confirma- 
tion of  pilgrimages,  and  trentals,  hearing  of  masses 
and    confessions,   and  many   other   such   things. 
And    after  she   had  lain   there  a  long  time,  she 
came  to  herself  again,  and  was  perfectly  whole. 
And  so  this  miracle  was  finished   and   solemnly 
sung,  and  a  book  written  of  all  the  story  thereof, 


^ 


60  CRANMER  AND   HIS   TIMES. 

and  put  into  print  ;  which  ever  since  that  time 
hath  been  commonly  sold,  and  gone  abroad  among 
the  people." 

Trances  and  somnambulism  have  generally 
been  the  medium  of  imposition.  Cranmer  goes 
on  to  say,  that  he  had  "  sent  for  the  holy  maid 
and  examined  her,  and  now  she  confessed  all,  and 
said  she  never  had  a  vision  in  her  life  ;  but  all 
that  she  ever  said  was  feigned  of  her  own  imagi- 
nation, to  satisfy  the  minds  of  them  that  resorted 
unto  her,  and  to  obtain  worldly  praise." 

She  and  her  accomplices  were  arraigned  and 
committed  to  the  Tower.  On  the  20th  of  April, 
the  Nun  or  Holy  Maid,  with  her  instigators,  were 
brought  to  Tyburn.  Whatever  might  have  been 
her  misdoings  in  other  respects,  it  is  shocking  to 
think  that  a  poor  epileptic  woman,  the  tool  of 
others,  should  have  been  executed  for  treason. 
Her  speech  at  the  scaffold  is  such,  as  in  lucid 
moments  and  removed  from  improper  influence, 
might  be  expected.  "  Hither  I  am  come  to  die  ; 
and  I  have  been  not  only  the  cause  of  my  own 
death,  which  most  justly  I  have  deserved,  but  al- 
so am  the  cause  of  the  death  of  all  those  persons 
who  suffer  here  at  this  time.  And  yet,  to  say 
the  truth,  I  am  not  much  to  be  blamed,  consider- 
ing that  it  was  well  known  to  these  learned  men 
that  I  was  a  poor  wench,  without  learning,  and 
therefore   they  might  easily  have  perceived  that 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  61 

the  things  that  were  done  by  me  could  not  pro- 
ceed in  no  such  sort ;  but  their  capacities  and 
learning  could  right  well  judge  from  whence  they 
proceeded,  and  that  they  were  altogether  feigned. 
But  because  the  thing  which  I  feigned  was  alto- 
gether profitable  to  them,  therefore  they  much 
praised  me,  and  bore  me  in  hand,  that  it  was  the 
Holy  Ghost  and  not  I  that  did  them  ;  and  then,  I 
being  puffed  up  with  their  praises,  fell  into  a  cer- 
tain pride  and  foolish  fantasy  with  myself,  and 
thought  I  might  feign  what  I  would,  which  thing 
hath  brought  me  to  this  case  ;  and  for  the  which 
now,  I  cry  God  and  the  King's  Highness  most 
heartily  mercy,  and  desire  you  all  good  people  to 
pray  to  God  to  have  mercy  on  me,  and  on  all 
them  that  here  suffer  with  me." 

Warham  and  Fisher  were  for  a  time  duped  by 
the  delusion,  and  even  Sir  Thomas  More  thought 
the  matter  worth  investigating  ;  but  it  does  not 
appear  that  he  was  decided,  as  he  always  spoke 
of  her  as  the  "  silly  nun."  Those  who  were 
executed  with  her  as  abettors,  have  been  called 
the  first  martyrs  of  reform  ;  with  how  much  jus- 
tice is  easily  determined. 

When  the  imposition  was  first  discovered, 
Cromwell,  then  Secretary  of  State,  sent  to  Fish- 
er, Bishop  of  Rochester,  a  reproof,  and  advised 
him  to  write  an  humble  letter  to  the  King,  and 
desire   his    pardon,   saying,   he    knew  the    King 


62  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

would  grant  it.  Fisher,  however,  evaded  the  ad- 
vice, and  said  that  he  was  induced  to  have  faith 
in  her  from  what  is  said  in  the  Prophet  Amos, 
"  that  God  will  do  nothing  without  revealing  it  to 
his  servants."  He  continued  obstinate,  and  would 
make  no  submission. 

The  oath  of  succession  for  Anne's  issue  was 
now  administered,  including  many  other  articles. 
It  was  generally  accepted  and  sworn  to  ;  but  Sir 
Thomas  More  and  the  Bishop  of  Rochester  re- 
fused to  take  the  oath.  The  Archbishop,  who 
had  a  sincere  respect  for  More,  urged  him  most 
earnestly  to  subscribe  to  it,  and  used  arguments 
convincing  to  his  own  mind. 

"  You  say,"  said  Cranmer,  u  that  you  are  not 
persuaded  that  it  is  a  sin,  but  a  doubtful  matter. 
You  certainly  know  you  ought  to  obey  the  King 
and  the  law  ;  therefore  there  is  a  certainty  on  the 
one  hand,  and  only  a  doubt  on  the  other." 

"  I  have  weighed  the  matter,"  he  replied,  "  and 
examined  it  carefully,  and  my  conscience  leans  to 
the  other  side.  I  am  willing  to  take  my  oath  that 
this  is  a  matter  of  principle,  and  not  done  from 
disrespect  or  obstinacy." 

Gardiner,  the  Abbot  of  Westminster,  then 
said,  that  he  might  see  that  his  conscience  was 
erroneous,  since  the  great  council  of  the  realm 
was  of  another  mind,  and  therefore  he  ought  to 
change  his  conscience. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  63 

"  If  I  were  alone,"  said  More,  "  against  the 
whole  Parliament,  I  might  suspect  my  own  judg- 
ment ;  but  I  have  the  whole  council  of  Christen- 
dom on  my  side." 

Secretary  Cromwell,  who  tenderly  loved  him, 
began  to  fear  that  his  ruin  was  inevitable,  and  pro- 
tested that  his  refusal  of  the  oath  was  to  him  like 
losing  his  only  son. 

Cranmer,  now  finding  that  neither  More  nor 
Fisher  could  be  wrought  upon  to  sign  what  was 
called  the  succession,  asked  them  if  they  would 
swear  to  the  succession  of  the  crown  for  the  issue 
of  the  King's  present  marriage,  and  let  the  other 
articles  rest. 

After  deliberation  they  consented,  and  Cran- 
mer wrote  an  earnest  and  touching  letter  to 
Cromwell,  entreating  these  lerms  might  be  accept- 
ed. But  the  King  was  too  much  irritated,  and 
determined  the  thing  should  proceed  according  to 
law  ;  and  they  were  indicted  and  committed  to 
the  Tower.  There  they  were  imprisoned  for  a 
year.  More  was  supplied  with  the  necessaries  of, 
life  by  his  favorite  daughter,  Margaret  Roper  ; 
but  Fisher,  in  his  seventy-seventh  year,  with  all 
the  infirmities  of  old  age,  was  left  without  suitable 
clothing,  and  compelled  to  solicit  it  even  from  his 
persecutors. 

There  is  something  in  this  proceeding,  that 
calls  forth  our  extreme  indignation.     Two  men, 


64  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

distinguished  for  their  piety  and  truth,  educated 
as  Catholics,  were  thus  condemned  for  asserting 
that  Henry  was  not  the  supreme  head  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  Fisher  was  the  last  surviving 
counsellor  of  Henry  the  Seventh,  and  to  his  care 
the  Countess  of  Richmond,  the  King's  grand- 
mother, on  her  death-bed,  recommended  her  roy- 
al grandson,  Henry  the  Eighth.  For  a  time,  the 
young  monarch  had  revered  him,  and  even  boast- 
ed, that  no  one  possessed  a  prelate  equal  in  virtue 
and  learning  to  the  Bishop  of  Rochester.  His 
opposition  to  the  divorce  first  alienated  the  King  ; 
then  the  affair  of  Elizabeth  Barton  drew  upon 
him  an  attainder  for  treason  ;  and  the  third  oppo- 
sition in  refusing  to  take  the  oath  of  succession, 
sealed  his  ruin. 

After  Fisher  was  imprisoned,  and  before  the 
news  of  his  condemnation  had  reached  Rome, 
Paul  the  Third,  the  successor  of  Clement,  named 
him  for  a  Cardinal.  When  this  information 
reached  Henry,  he  said  with  much  jocularity, 
"  Paul  may  send  the  hat,  but  we  will  take  care 
that  he  shall  have  no  head  to  wear  it  on." 

Cranmer  did  not  cease  exerting  his  influence 
to  save  the  lives  of  these  two  men.  When 
More  was  to  appear  at  the  bar,  he  was  con- 
ducted on  foot  through  the  most  frequented 
streets,  on  the  7th  of  May,  1535,  and  entered 
the  court  leaning  on  his  staff,  for  he  was  much 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  65 

weakened  by  his  imprisonment  ;  but  his  counte- 
nance was  cheerful  and  composed.  The  sen- 
tence pronounced  upon  him  is  too  horrible  to  re- 
cord, but  "  by  the  King's  mercy  "  it  was  changed 
into  beheading. 

Fisher,  Bishop  of  Rochester,  was  still  more 
enfeebled  by  age  and  great  privations,  but  seems 
to  have  preserved  a  cheerfulness  almost  amount- 
ing to  vivacity  ;  or,  perhaps,  the  speedy  prospect 
of  relief,  after  the  time  of  his  execution  was 
fixed,  might  have  produced  *it.  For  instance, 
there  was  a  false  rumor  that  he  was  to  be  execut- 
ed on  a  certain  day.  His  cook  hearing  of  it, 
omitted  preparing  his  dinner.  He  inquired  why 
his  dinner  was  not  brought.  "  Sir,"  said  the 
cook,  "it  was  commonly  talked  all  the  towne 
over,  that  you  should  have  died  that  day,  and 
therefore  I  thought  it  but  vaine  to  dresse  any 
thing  for  you." 

"  For  all  that  report,"  he  answered  merrily, 
"  thou  seest  me  yet  alive  ;  and,  therefore,  whatso- 
ever newes  thou  shalt  heare  of  me  hereafter,  let 
me  no  more  lack  my  dinner,  but  make  it  ready 
as  thou  art  wont  to  do  ;  and,  if  thou  seest  me  dead 
when  thou  comest,  eat  it  thyself." 

He  arrayed  himself  for  his  execution  with  un- 
common care,  calling  it  his  "marriage  day." 
When  the  lieutenant  came  for  him,  he  was  not 

5 


66  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

quite  ready,  and  sent  for  his  furred  tippet  to  put 
round  his  neck. 

The  officer  smiled,  and  said,  "  O  my  lord, 
what  neede  you  be  so  careful  for  your  health  for 
this  little  time,  not  much  above  an  houre." 

"  I  think  no  otherwise,"  he  replied  ;  "  but  yet 
I  will  keep  myself  as  well  as  I  can  till  the  very 
time  of  my  execution.  I  will  not  willingly  hinder 
my  health  one  minute  of  an  hour,  but  still  pro- 
long the  same  as  long  as  I  can,  by  such  reason- 
able waies  and  m^Uies,  as  God  hath  provided  for 
me." 

There  is  something  truly  dignified  in  this  reply, 
showing  the  healthy  and  composed  state  of  his 
mind. 

"  When  the  innocent  and  holy  man  was  come 
upon  the  scaffold,  he  spake  to  the  people  in  effect 
as  followeth  ; 

"Christian  people,  I  am  come  hither  to  die 
for  the  faith  of  Christ's  holy  Catholique  Church  ; 
and  I  thank  God  hitherto  my  stomach  hath  served 
me  very  well  thereunto,  so  that  yet  I  have  not 
feared  death  ;  wherefore  I  desire  you  all  to  help 
and  assist  with  your  prayers,  and,  at  the  very  in- 
stant and  point  of  death's  stroke,  I  may  in  that 
very  moment  stand  steadfast  without  fainting  in 
any  one  point  of  the  Catholique  faith,  free  from 
any  fear." 

Would  that  this  were  the  first  blood  shed  in 


CBANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  67 

the  cause  of  religious  faith  during  Henry  the 
Eighth's  reign.  But  it  is  sad  to  think,  that  men 
who  could  die  so  nobly  for  their  own  belief,  were 
previously  instruments  in  shedding  the  blood  of 
Lutherans  !  There  is  sufficient  evidence  that 
Cranmer  bitterly  lamented  the  death  of  these  two 
men,  and  used  all  the  influence  he  possessed  to 
save  their  lives. 

The  execution  of  these  two  distinguished  sons 
of  the  Catholic  Church,  Sir  Thomas  More  and 
Fisher,  filled  the  Pope,  Paul  the  Third,  with 
just  indignation.  He  perceived  that  the  peri- 
od for  temporizing  was  past,  and  he  determined 
to  make  a  desperate  effort  to  establish  once 
more  his  authority  among  the  subjects  of  the  re- 
bellious King.  For  this  purpose,  in  1535,  his 
celebrated  bull  was  executed.  The  tenor  of  it 
is  well  known.  It  summons  the  King  and  his 
accomplices  to  appear  at  Rome  within  sixty  days, 
on  pain  of  excommunication  and  of  exclusion 
from  Christian  burial.  In  case  of  disobedience, 
an  interdict  is  laid  on  public  worship,  and  the  pos- 
terity of  Anne  Boleyn  pronounced  illegitimate. 
It  absolves  the  subjects  of  Henry  from  their 
fealty  and  allegiance,  commands  the  clergy  to 
leave  the  realm,  and  forbids  the  military  to  stir  in 
defence  of  the  King.  It  prohibits  all  Christian 
powers  from  entering  into  treaty  or  confederacy 
with  the  King,  and  dissolves  all  previous  engage- 


68  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ments  made  with  him.  It  charges  the  nobility 
and  gentry  to  take  up  arms  against  their  sovereign, 
and  authorizes  all  to  seize  the  property  of  those 
who  disobey  the  bull,  and  to  reduce  them  to 
slavery. 

There  was  two  or  three  years'  delay  before 
this  tremendous  instrument  was  actually  and  offi- 
cially issued.  Paul  and  his  counsellors  were 
credulous  enough  to  believe  that  the  mere  rumor 
of  it  would  be  sufficient  to  bring  Henry  to  terms  ; 
but,  lest  it  should  not  accomplish  all  that  was  in- 
tended, another  alarming  report  was  circulated, 
that  the  Pope  had  determined,  if  Henry  contin- 
ued disobedient,  to  take  away  his  kingdom,  and 
give  it  to  one  of  the  pious  German  princes. 

What  in  the  present  day  excites  derision,  at 
that  period  stirred  up  controversy.  And  in  this 
childish  exhibition  of  pontifical  power,  Cranmer 
found  the  cause  which  lay  at  his  heart  strongly 
aided. 

He  succeeded  in  consecrating  the  excellent 
Latimer  in  the  see  of  Worcester  ;  a  man  who 
seems  to  have  been  free  from  the  persecuting 
bigotry  of  the  times.  Cromwell  was  created 
vicegerent  by  the  King  ;  and,  whatever  was  his 
character,  he  did  much  towards  aiding  Cranmer's 
purposes.  The  suppression  of  the  monasteries 
was  his  work,  in  conjunction  with  the  King,  who 
was    nothing   loth  to  convert   their   revenues  to 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  69 

his  own  emolument.  Cranmer  most  earnestly 
desired,  that  the  monasteries  and  abbeys  might 
become  schools  and  colleges,  and  used  many 
arguments  and  much  persuasion  for  that  pur- 
pose. 


70  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES 


CHAPTER    VI. 

A  heavy  calamity  was  now  impending  over 
the  Archbishop.  He  had  loved  the  Queen  with 
parental  affection,  and  trusted  that  her  reign  might 
promote  the  cause  of  virtue  and  true  religion.  In 
the  continuance  of  her  gay  and  sometimes  sportive 
demeanor,  after  she  became  Queen  of  England,  he 
saw  only  the  same  natural  vivacity,  that  had  made 
her  the  delight  of  her  friends,  the  charm  of  her 
father's  household,  and  had  won  the  heart  of  the 
monarch.  It  does  not  appear,  that  he  had  ever 
advised  her  to  a  change  of  demeanor,  or  warned 
her  that  her  royal  husband  had  placed  spies  in  her 
path.  Such  an  idea  was  probably  as  remote  from 
his  mind,  as  it  appears  to  have  been  from  that  of 
the  unfortunate  Queen. 

It  was  at  a  tilting  match  that  the  King's  jeal- 
ousy is  said  to  have  reached  its  height.  The 
fall  of  her  handkerchief,  whether  by  accident  or 
design,  which  he  chose  to  consider  a  signal  to 
a  lover,  was  the  pretext  he  made  use  of  to  accuse 
the  Queen.  But,  if  the  beautiful  Jane  Seymour 
was  present,  it  elucidates  the  mystery.  Anne 
was  to  be   sacrificed  to   make   way  for  a  rival. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  71 

The  mockery  of  her  trial  fills  us  with  indignation. 
Surrounded  by  enemies,  all  eager  for  her  ruin, 
for  Henry  had  become  despotic  ;  tormented  by 
the  presence  of  a  woman,  who,  though  the  wife 
of  her  uncle,  took  pleasure  in  annoying  her  ;  ac- 
cused of  the  vilest  crimes  by  the  infamous  Lady 
Rochfort,  who,  for  the  sake  of  accomplishing  the 
ruin  of  the  Queen,  condemned  her  own  husband 
to  the  scaffold,  what  hope  remained  for  the  unfor- 
tunate Anne  ?  We  naturally  look  to  Cranmer  ; 
but  even  here  our  expectations  are  frustrated. 
The  King,  knowing  the  antagonist  he  must  en- 
counter, sent  him  his  positive  commands,  not  to 
appear  at  Court,  but  to  go  to  Lambeth. 

It  is  evident  that  there  had  been  some  want  of 
harmony  between  Anne  and  her  royal  husband 
previously  to  the  birth  of  a  son,  "  who,  in  being 
born  dead,"  greatly  enraged  him,  as  his  expecta- 
tions were  at  once  disappointed.  Her  gentle  and 
heart-breaking  remonstrance,  that  it  might  have 
been  different  but  for  his  unkindness,  proves  that 
she  had  suffered  previously  to  the  event.  The 
best  explanation  of  the  sequel  of  the  Queen's 
history,  is  in  the  following  sentence.  u  The 
King  saw  her  no  longer  with  those  eyes  which 
she  had  formerly  captivated." 

It  is  very  possible,  that  her  manners  might  have 
been  too  frank  and  open  for  the  high  dignity  of 
her    situation,    and   have   given    the  King   some 


72  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

grounds  for  jealousy.  But  the  extreme  alienation 
that  took  place,  can  only  be  accounted  for,  by 
bearing  in  mind  his  character,  as  it  exhibited  itself 
through  life.  Jealous  of  the  sentiments  he  in- 
spired, and  forgetting  how  entirely  he  had  lost  the 
power  of  charming,  he  probably  discovered  this 
unwelcome  truth  from  Anne's  involuntary  deport- 
ment. Her  own  observation  confirms  this  idea. 
While  protesting  her  innocence  of  any  crime,  she 
adds,  that  possibly  she  might  not  have  been  suffi- 
ciently guarded  in  concealing  her  dissatisfaction 
towards  him.  Probably  disgust  was  the  true 
word,  and  we  may  well  believe  that  her  death  was 
too  slight  a  revenge  for  his  insulted  pride.  It  was 
sufficient  however  for  his  purposes,  as  it  opened 
the  way  for  a  new  Queen. 

No  one  can  read  the  trial  of  Anne  Boleyn, 
without  feeling  the  mockery  of  it.  The  King's 
accusation  against  her  of  infidelity  falls  to  the 
ground,  and  the  poor  resource  of  a  pre-contract 
with  Percy,  Earl  of  Northumberland,  is  had  re- 
course to.  This  the  Earl  positively  denied  on 
oath  ;  but  Anne,  perhaps,  understanding  less  the 
nature  of  legal  contracts,  and  remembering  her 
first  love,  and  feeling  that  her  heart  was  closely 
allied  to  his,  let  fall  words  that  could  be  interpret- 
ed into  a  confession  of  a  contract  before  her  mar- 
riage with  the  King. 

Let  us  look  at  the  situation  of  this  unfortunate 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  73 

Queen,  at  whose  coronation,  three  years  before, 
we  have  glanced.  She  had  decidedly  advocated 
the  reformed  doctrines,  and  used  all  her  influence 
that  the  Bible  might  be  translated  into  English,  in 
a  manner  that  all  might  search  it  for  themselves. 
She  had  endeavoured  to  promote  a  union  between 
Henry  and  the  Protestant  princes.  This  natural- 
ly disaffected  her  Catholic  subjects  ;  and  as  her 
charities,  though  freely  given  to  all  who  were  in 
want,  were  among  the  poor  and  uninfluential,  they 
created  for  her  no  powerful  party.  In  nine 
months  she  distributed  between  fourteen  and  fif- 
teen thousand  pounds  to  the  poor,  and  was  urgent 
that  the  money  that  was  raised  by  the  suppres- 
sion of  religious  houses  should  be  dedicated  to 
benevolent  purposes. 

Gardiner,  who  was  abroad,  and  the  Duke  of 
Norfolk  at  Court,  justly  dreaded  her  influence  in 
opposition  to  the  Catholic  cause,  and  heartily 
wished  her  out  of  the  way.  There  were  enough 
round  the  King  to  seize  the  humor  of  his  mind,  and 
to  act  as  spies  ;  and,  by  informing  him  that  a  Lady 
Wingfield  had  sworn  upon  her  death-bed  that  the 
Queen  was  unfaithful  to  him,  they  gave  him  a  pre- 
tence for  arraigning  her.  "  This,"  says  an  histori- 
an of  the  times,  "  was  the  safest  sort  of  forgery, 
to  lay  a  thing  on  a  dead  person's  name,  where  there 
is  no  fear  of  discovery  before  the  great  day." 

When  she  was  first  arraigned,  she  appears  to 


74  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

have  doubted  the  reality,  and  said,  smiling,  "  The 
King  has  only  done  this  thing  to  prove  me." 
When  actually  convinced,  she  was  seized  with 
violent  nervous  affections,  and  talked  wildly  of 
her  own  innocence  and  the  judgment  that  would 
fall  on  her  enemies.  She  earnestly  entreated  to 
see  the  King  ;  but,  of  course,  this  she  was  de- 
nied. The  next  day  she  was  carried  to  the 
Tower,  and  Lady  Boleyn,  an  aunt-in-law,  was 
placed  with  her  as  a  spy,  who  regularly  studied 
to  draw  confessions  from  her,  every  day  making 
known  all  that  fell  from  her  lips. 

We  may  imagine  what  was  the  state  of  the 
prisoner,  naturally  so  excitable,  and  of  a  delicate 
and  sensitive  frame.  Her  sense  of  wretchedness 
seemed  to  be  extreme,  and  brought  on  nervous 
spasms.  Sometimes  she  wept  violently,  and  then, 
by  a  sudden  transition  of  feeling,  burst  into  laugh- 
ter. Then,  again,  she  called  on  her  mother,  and 
bemoaned  her  misery  when  she  should  hear  of  her 
calamity  ;  but  she  was  denied  the  natural  solace 
of  seeing  her.  Her  mother  was  not  permitted 
to  be  with  her.  Could  she  have  rested  her 
throbbing  head  on  her  bosom,  could  she  have  felt 
maternal  tears  mingling  with  hers,  could  she  have 
listened  to  the  soothing,  though  agonized  accents 
of  affection,  we  might  have  pitied  her  less  ;  for 
that  being  is  not  wholly  desolate,  who  has  one 
friend  to  lean  upon.     But  poor  Anne  had  none. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  75 

"  O,  if  my  Bishops  were  but  here,"  she  ex- 
claimed, "  they  would  speak  for  me  !  " 

But  the  King  would  not  see  Cranmer,  and 
Cranmer  alone  dared  by  letter  to  plead  her  cause. 
This  letter  is  given  at  length  in  various  histories.* 
That  it  was  written  with  the  design  of  aiding  the 
Queen,  is  fully  apparent ;  and  yet,  with  the  greatest 
caution,  not  to  defend  her  so  warmly  as  to  ex- 
cite anew  the  evil  feelings  of  the  King.  While 
he  protests  that  he  was  most  bound  to  her  of  all 
creatures  living,  next  to  his  Grace,  he  beseeches 
the  King  to  suffer  him  to  wish  and  pray  that  she 
may  declare  herself  inculpable  and  innocent. 
"  I  am  in  such  a  perplexity,"  he  says,  "  that  my 
mind  is  clean  amazed  ;  for  I  never  had  better 
opinion  in  woman  than  I  had  in  her  ;  which 
maketh  me  to  think  that  she  could  not  be  cul- 
pable." 

We  must  reflect,  for  a  moment,  on  the  despot- 
ic power  of  Henry,  and  the  implicit  deference 
exercised  towards  him,  to  excuse  in  any  degree 
the  inactivity  of  Anne's  former  friends.  We  feel 
far  from  satisfied  with  the  only  one  that  made  any 
attempt  to  bring  the  King  to  reflection  ;  and  this 
was  Cranmer.  Yet  it  would  have  been  proba- 
bly a  useless  sacrifice  of  his  own  life,  had  he  ex- 


*  Burnet's    "  History  of  the    Reformation,"  Vol.  II. ; 
"  British  State  Trials,"  &c. 


76  CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

erted  himself  warmly  in  her  cause.  The  methods 
he  made  use  of  were  prudent  and  cautious,  but 
failed,  as  all  others  would  have  done.  We  hope, 
for  the  sake  of  human  nature,  that  he  urged  to  see 
the  Queen  in  her  prison  ;  but  this  would  be  a  matter 
between  the  King  and  himself,  and  was  not  grant- 
ed. She  was  doomed  to  linger  through  her  days 
of  suspense  without  the  consolation  of  sympathy. 
At  length  she  was  summoned  to  her  trial,  pro- 
nounced guilty  of  high  treason,  and  sentenced  to 
be  burned. 

We  may  imagine  what  her  agony  was  at  this 
terrible  prospect,  and  how  she  might  be  wrought 
on  to  confess  herself  guilty  in  the  hope  of  mitigat- 
ing the  sentence.  But,  with  all  this  natural  hor- 
ror acting  upon  her  mind,  she  never  for  an  instant 
wavered  in  declaring  her  innocence  of  all  offence 
save  the  pre-contract,  which  she  evidently  did  not 
understand  legally. 

It  was  now  necessary  that  a  divorce  should  be 
obtained,  in  order  that  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of 
Anne,  should  be  rendered  illegitimate.  The 
Archbishop  was  called  on  to  pronounce  the  sen- 
tence of  divorce.  This  was  done  at  Lambeth, 
he  sitting  as  judge. 

Till  we  reflect  fully  on  the  circumstances,  we 
are  shocked  that  any  human  authority  could  have 
compelled  him  to  such  a  step.  But  Anne  had 
confessed  the  pre-contract   with  another  before 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  77 

her  marriage,  and  confessed  it  at  Lambeth  before 
Cranmer.  In  his  office  of  judge  he  was  obliged 
to  pronounce  the  sentence  of  divorce.  That  he 
was  deeply  afflicted,  there  is  abundant  testimony. 
Other  motives  probably  operated  upon  his  mind. 
He  thought,  if  Anne  was  no  longer  an  obstacle  to 
the  King's  marriage,  but  was  fairly  divorced,  her 
life  might  be  spared,  and  a  pardon  granted  ;  but  no 
such  mercy  was  in  store  for  her.  In  consequence 
of  her  confession,  her  sentence  of  burning  was 
commuted  to  beheading. 

When  all  suspense  was  over,  and  she  knew  that 
she  must  die,  and  the  manner  of  her  death,  some 
natural  feeling  of  apprehension  seems  to  have 
clung  to  her,  as  she  expressed  to  the  executioner, 
Mr.  Kingston.  "  c  Mr.  Kingston,  I  hear  say  I 
shall  not  die  this  afternoon  ;  and  I  am  very  sorry 
therefore  ;  for  I  thought  to  be  dead  by  this  time, 
and  past  my  pain.'  I  told  her  it  would  be  no 
pain,  it  was  so  sottle.  '  I  have  a  little  neck,'  said 
she,  laughing,  and  put  her  hands  about  it.  I  have 
seen  many  men  and  women  executed  ;  and  that 
they  have  been  in  much  sorrow  ;  but  this  lady,  to 
my  knowledge,  has  joy  and  pleasure  in  death."  * 

Thus  ended  the  life  of  Anne  Boleyn,  in  1 536, 
the  very  year  of  Catharine's  death.  Catholic 
historians  have  argued  presumptions  of  her  guilt, 

*  Kingston's  letter. 


78  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

because  her  daughter,  Queen  Elizabeth,  instituted 
no  process  to  prove  her  innocence  during  her 
reign.  On  the  score  of  prudence,  it  agreed  with 
her  wary  policy  to  let  the  question  of  succession, 
now  at  rest,  remain  so.  And  then  how  could 
she  institute  an  inquiry,  without  rendering  her 
father's  memory  as  execrable  as  it  deserved  to  be. 
She  acted  in  this  respect  with  her  usual  wisdom. 
Of  the  unfortunate  Anne  there  is  now  little  to  be 
said.  Her  great  fault  was  ambition,  and  dearly 
she  paid  for  it.  Her  advocates  say,  for  five 
years  she  resisted  the  King's  criminal  suit,  and 
finally  obliged  him  to  make  her  his  Queen.  There 
is  little  of  honor  in  that  virtue  which  suffered  such 
an  assault  for  five  years,  nor  is  it  uncandid  to  sup- 
pose that  her  coquetry  kept  alive  his  passion. 
She  frequented  his  tilts  and  tournaments,  when  she 
knew  herself  to  be  the  object  of  them,  and  some- 
times retired  from  the  Court,  and  sometimes  re- 
turned to  it.  We  have  seen  many  queen  it  on  a 
smaller  scale,  and  with  a  far  less  object  than  a  di- 
adem ;  but  the  want  of  truth  and  exalted  virtue  is 
the  same.  Poor  Anne  Boleyn  !  for  what  does  her 
history  now  serve,  but  to  u  point  a  moral."  Let 
us  use  it  then  as  we  may.  We  are  not  fond  of 
talking  of  retribution  ;  it  is  a  mysterious  subject, 
and  may  be  the  source  of  uncharitable  mistakes. 
But  there  was  a  remarkable  coincidence  between 
Anne's  errors  and  her  misfortunes.     Neither  her 


CRANMER  AND  HIS   TIMES.  79 

youth,  nor  her  thoughtlessness,  nor  her  constitu- 
tional gayety,  can  lead  us  to  overlook  her  want  of 
feeling  for  Catharine  of  Aragon,  nor  the  little 
remorse  with  which  she  took  possession  of  her 
throne.  Three  years  afterwards,  how  bitterly  was 
the  pang  brought  home  to  her  own  heart.  Did  she 
not  then  think  of  the  injured  Queen  ?  We  are 
told  that  she  did,  and  of  the  Princess  Mary,  and 
sent  a  message  to  the  latter,  imploring  her  for- 
giveness for  any  harshness  she  might  have  shown 
towards  her  in  her  relation  of  step-mother. 

Then,  too,  from  the  early  attachment  between 
herself  and  Percy  of  Northumberland,  arose  an- 
other striking  coincidence.  She  had  slighted  his 
honest  love  in  the  prospect  of  a  crown  ;  she  had 
relinquished  his  affection  in  consequence  of  the 
unrighteous  pursuit  of  the  monarch  ;  and,  on  that 
very  peg,  he  hung  his  accusation,  —  on  the  pre- 
contract (if  there  was  one)  which  he  had  severed. 
Truly,  "  the  gods  make  scourges  "  of  our  errors 
as  well  as  vices.  In  these  points,  we  think,  con- 
sist the  whole  of  Anne's  offences  ;  and  "  griev- 
ously did  she  atone  for  them." 

Her  last  letter  to  the  King  ought  not  to  be 
omitted. 

"  Sir,  Your  Grace's  displeasure,  and  my  im- 
prisonment, are  things  so  strange  unto  me,  as  what 
to  write,  or  what  to  excuse,  I  am  altogether  igno- 


80  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

rant.  Whereas  you  send  unto  me,  (willing  me 
to  confess  a  truth,  and  so  obtain  your  favor,)  by 
such  an  one  whom  you  know  to  be  mine  ancient 
professed  enemy,  I  no  sooner  received  this  mes- 
sage by  him,  than  I  rightly  conceived  your  mean- 
ing ;  and  as  if,  as  you  say,  confessing  a  truth  in- 
deed may  procure  my  safety,  I  shall  with  all  wil- 
lingness and  duty,  perform  your  command. 

"But  let  not  your  Grace  ever  imagine,  that 
your  poor  wife  will  ever  be  brought  to  acknowl- 
edge a  fault,  where  not  so  much  as  a  thought 
thereof  preceded.  And  to  speak  a  truth,  never 
prince  had  wife  more  loyal  in  all  duty,  and  in 
all  true  affection,  than  you  have  ever  found  in 
Anne  Boleyn,  with  which  name  and  place  I  could 
willingly  have  contented  myself,  if  God,  and  your 
Grace's  pleasure,  had  been  so  pleased.  Neither 
did  I,  at  any  time,  so  far  forget  myself  in  my  ex- 
altation, or  received  Queenship,  but  that  I  always 
looked  for  such  an  alteration  as  now  I  find  ;  for 
the  ground  of  my  preferment  being  on  no  surer 
foundation  than  your  Grace's  fancy,  the  least  al- 
teration, I  knew,  was  fit  and  sufficient  to  draw 
that  fancy  to  some  other  subject.  You  have 
chosen  me  from  a  low  estate,  to  be  your  Queen 
and  companion,  far  beyond  my  desert  or  desire. 
If  then  you  found  me  worthy  of  such  honor, 
good  your  Grace,  let  not  any  light  fancy,  or  bad 
counsel  of  mine  enemies,  withdraw  your  princely 


• 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  81 

favor  from  me  ;  neither  let  that  stain,  that  unwor- 
thy stain  of  a  disloyal  heart  towards  your  good 
Grace,  ever  cast  so  foul  a  blot  on  your  most  du- 
tiful wife,  and  the  infant  princess  your  daughter. 
Try  me,  good  King,  but  let  me  have  a  lawful 
trial,  and  let  not  my  sworn  enemies  sit  as  my  ac- 
cusers and  judges  ;  yea,  let  me  receive  an  open 
trial,  for  my  truth  shall  fear  no  open  shame  ;  then 
shall  you  see,  either  mine  innocency  cleared, 
your  suspicion  and  conscience  satisfied,  the  igno- 
miny and  slander  of  the  world  stopped,  or  my 
guilt  openly  declared.  So  that  whatsoever  God 
or  you  may  determine  of  me,  your  Grace  may  be 
freed  from  an  open  censure  ;  and,  mine  offence 
being  so  lawfully  proved,  your  Grace  is  at  liberty, 
both  before  God  and  man,  not  only  to  execute 
worthy  punishment  on  me  as  an  unlawful  wife,  but 
to  follow  your  affection,  already  settled  on  that 
party,  for  whose  sake  I  am  now  as  I  am,  whose 
name  I  could  some  good  while  since  have  pointed 
unto  ;  your  Grace  being  not  ignorant  of  my  sus- 
picion therein. 

"  But,  if  you  have  already  determined  of  me, 
and  that  not  only  my  death,  but  an  infamous  slan- 
der, must  bring  you  the  enjoying  of  your  desired 
happiness,  then  I  desire  of  God,  that  he  will  par- 
don your  great  sin  therein,  and  likewise  mine  en- 
emies, the  instruments  thereof ;  and  that  he  will 
not  call  you  to  a  strict  account  for  your  unprince- 

6 


82  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ly  and  cruel  usage  of  me,  at  his  general  judgment 
seat,  where  both  you  and  myself  must  shortly  ap- 
pear, and  in  whose  judgment,  I  doubt  not,  (what- 
soever the  world  may  think  of  me,)  mine  inno- 
cence shall  be  openly  known,  and  sufficiently 
cleared. 

"  My  last  and  only  request  shall  be,  that  my- 
self may  only  bear  the  burthen  of  your  Grace's 
displeasure,  and  that  it  may  not  touch  the  inno- 
cent souls  of  those  poor  gentlemen,  who  (as  I 
understand)  are  likewise  in  strait  imprisonment 
for  my  sake.  If  ever  I  have  found  favor  in  your 
sight,  if  ever  the  name  of  Anne  Boleyn  hath  been 
pleasing  in  your  ears,  then  let  me  obtain  this  re- 
quest ;  and  I  will  so  leave  to  trouble  your  Grace 
any  further,  with  mine  earnest  prayers  to  the 
Trinity  to  have  your  Grace  in  his  good  keeping, 
and  to  direct  you  in  all  your  actions.  From  my 
doleful  prison  in  the  Tower,  this  6th  of  May. 

"  Your  most  loyal  and  ever  faithful  wife, 

"  Anne  Boleyn." 

The  night  before  her  execution,  she  sent  to 
the  King  the  following  noble  message.  "  Tell 
him,  I  thank  him  that  he  has  still  continued  to 
advance  me  ;  from  a  private  gentlewoman,  he 
first  made  me  a  Marchioness,  then  a  Queen,  and, 
now  that  he  can  raise  me  no  higher  on  earth,  he 
is  sending  me  to  be  a  saint  in  heaven." 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES,  83 

The  day  after  the  execution,  the  King  led  Jane 
Seymour  to  the  altar,  and  by  this  violation  of 
common  decency,  evinced  the  motive  of  his 
persecution.  Indeed,  so  impatient  was  he  for 
Anne's  death,  that  he  ordered  cannon  to  be  fired 
as  a  signal  that  the  deed  was  done. 

The  intelligence  of  these  events  filled  all  Eu- 
rope with  horror  and  astonishment.  Cranmer 
came  in  for  his  share  of  indignation.  But  we  are 
told  by  able  casuists,  that  "  what  he  did  was  un- 
avoidable ;  for,  whatever  motives  drew  from  her 
the  confession  of  a  pre-contract,  he  was  obliged 
to  give  sentence  upon  it." 

Lady  Mary,  daughter  of  Catharine  of  Aragon, 
now  wrote  a  humble  letter  to  the  King,  and  de- 
sired to  be  admitted  to  his  presence,  asserting 
that,  whereas  she  had  formerly  troubled  him  by 
her  obstinacy,  she  now  freely  submitted  to  the 
laws  of  the  land  about  the  succession. 

The  King  was  by  no  means  contented  with  this 
submission,  and  insisted  on  her  acknowledging 
him  to  be  the  supreme  head  of  the  Church,  and 
the  Pope's  authority  an  assumed  one  ;  and  also  on 
her  declaring  that  his  marriage  with  her  mother  was 
unlawful  and  void.  After  much  debate  and  writ- 
ing many  letters  to  Cromwell,  she  at  length  yield- 
ed, and  sent  a  paper  containing  a  full  submission 
to  all  the  articles  the  King  required,  and  signed 
it  with  her  own  hand.     She  was  then  received 


84  CRANMER   AND    HIS   TIMES. 

into  favor,  and  an  establishment  was  provided  for 
her.  The  allowance  made  for  her  private  ex- 
penses was  one  hundred  and  sixty  pounds  a  year  ! 
Elizabeth  does  not  appear  to  have  shared  the 
disgrace  of  her  mother.  She  was  bred  at  Court, 
and  treated  with  maternal  affection  by  the  new 
Queen,  whose  sweetness  of  disposition  seems  to 
be  allowed  by  all. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  85 


CHAPTER  VII. 

In  looking  back  upon  former  periods  of  history, 
nothing  can  be  more  unjust  or  erroneous  than  to 
measure  men  by  present  opinions.  This  particu- 
larly applies  to  Americans,  a  nation  who  have 
never  known  the  yoke  of  despotism,  and  who 
cannot  easily  bring  their  minds  to  believe  that  a 
fellow-mortal,  "dressed  in  a  little,  brief  authority," 
could  cramp  and  paralyze  even  the  moral  powers 
of  the  mind.  It  seems,  however,  at  this  time, 
to  have  excited  indignation  among  European 
powers,  that  Cranmer  could  be  even  a  subordinate 
actor  in  such  scenes  of  tyrannical  injustice  and 
cruelty.  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Arch- 
bishop entertained  the  highest  idea  of  kingly 
power,  and  believed  himself  bound  by  his  office 
to  pronounce  the  sentences  of  divorce  on  the  for- 
mer and  on  this  occasion. 

With  regard  to  Catharine,  his  convictions  were 
sincere,  that  the  marriage  was  unlawful  ;  with  re- 
gard to  Anne,  we  do  not  believe  that  he  for  a  mo- 
ment thought  her  guilty.  Where,  then,  shall  we 
find  an  apology  for  an  unrighteous  deed.  The 
most  obvious  was  before  suggested  ;  that  he  con- 


86  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

sidered,  that,  by  pronouncing  the  divorce,  the 
wrath  of  Henry  might  be  mitigated,  and  Anne 
permitted  to  live. 

Another  reason,  no  doubt,  acted  powerfully 
on  the  mind  of  the  Archbishop  ;  and  this  was, 
his  entire  devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  Reforma- 
tion. It  engrossed  his  whole  soul,  and  all  things 
else  were  minor.  Though  his  mild  and  kind- 
ly character,  his  own  assertion  in  his  letter  to 
the  King,  that  "  he  never  had  so  high  an  opinion 
of  any  woman  as  of  Anne,"  his  long  intimacy 
with  her,  and  his  knowledge  of  her  private  char- 
ities, are  a  sufficient  evidence,  that,  whether  he 
believefi  her  guilty  or  innocent,  his  distress  must 
have  been  great ;  yet  he  does  not  appear  to  have 
relaxed  for  a  moment  his  efforts  in  this  great 
cause.  In  the  same  letter  to  the  King,  he  con- 
trives to  introduce  the  subject.  "Wherefore, 
I  trust  that  your  Grace  will  bear  no  less  entire 
favor  unto  the  truths  of  the  Gospel,  than  you  did 
before  ;  forsomuch  as  your  Grace's  favor  to  the 
Gospel  was  not  led  by  affection  unto  her,  but  by 
zeal  unto  the  truth."  The  last  assertion,  whether 
made  with  perfect  simplicity,  or  founded  on  the 
traits  of  the  King's  character,  was  well  calculated 
to  answer  the  purpose  designed. 

It  is  time  to  quit  this  unwelcome  subject.  The 
Catholics  were  sanguine  that  the  death  of  Anne 
would  restore  the  kingdom  to  its  popish  allegiance. 


CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES.  87 

But  the  new  Parliament  that  was  called,  entirely- 
extinguished  this  hope.  On  the  contrary,  their 
measures  were  such  as  to  render  the  royal  author- 
ity complete.  Not  a  shadow  of  importance  was 
left  for  the  Pope,  and  the  power  of  the  crown 
was  more  despotic  and  absolute  than  any  which 
had  been  before  assumed  by  the  kings. 

At  this  time,  the  famous  Articles  were  drawn 
up,  and  after  being  revised  and  corrected  by  the 
King,  were  published  with  this  title  ;  "  Articles 
devised  by  the  King's  Highness,  to  stablish  quiet- 
ness and  unity,  and  to  avoid  contentious  opin- 
ions." An  historian  says  ;  "  The  publication  of 
these  articles  may  justly  be  considered  as  the  sun- 
rise of  our  doctrinal  Reformation."  Though 
they  contain  remnants  of  Romish  opinions,  there 
is  a  uniform  reference  to  Scripture  throughout, 
and  the  spirit  of  Cranmer  is  easily  discernible. 
Indeed,  he  was  now  considered  the  head  of  the 
Protestant  party,  and,  as  such,  his  path  was  a 
thorny  one.  He  was  subject  to  petty,  but  ha- 
rassing opposition,  and  a  foolish  story,  for  which 
there  was  no  ground,  was  invented,  of  his  being 
originally  an  ostler.  An  ignorant  priest  express- 
ed his  surprise,  that  a  man  who  was  early  in  life 
an  ostler,  and  had  no  more  learning  than  a  goose, 
should  be  so  much  extolled.  He  was  committed 
to  the  Fleet,  by  some  of  the  zealous  admirers  of 
Cranmer,  and,  after  remaining  there  a  (exv  days, 


88  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

sent  an  humble  petition  to  the  Archbishop  for 
pardon.  This  led  Cranmer  to  inquire  into  the 
nature  of  his  offence,  and  he  ordered  the  priest 
brought  into  his  presence. 

"  Did  you  ever  see  me  before  this  day  ?  "  said 
the  primate. 

"Never,"  replied  the  priest. 

u  Why,  then,"  said  Cranmer,  u  did  you  call 
me  an  ostler,  and  report  that  I  had  no  more  learn- 
ing than  a  gosling  ?  " 

"  Alas  !  "  said  the  priest,  "  I  was  drunk  or 
beside  myself." 

"Well,"  replied  Cranmer,  "produce  your 
own  learning,  and  confound  me  now.  Begin  in 
grammar,  if  you  will  ;  or  else  in  science  and  di- 
vinity." 

u  Indeed,  my  lord,"  said  the  priest,  much 
confused,  "  I  do  not  understand  the  Latin  tongue  ; 
I  can  only  speak  English." 

"  Be  it  so,"  replied  Cranmer  ;  "  you  read  the 
Bible  of  course.     Who  was  David's  father  ?  " 

The  priest  acknowledged  that  he  really  did 
not  know. 

"  Then,  perhaps,"  said  Cranmer,  "  you  will 
inform  me,  who  was  the  father  of  Solomon  ?  " 

The  priest  now  protested  that  he  knew  nothing 
of  the  genealogies,  and  the  Archbishop  closed 
this  amusing  examination  by  giving  him  his  liberty 
and  dismissing  him. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  89 

One  great  difficulty,  which  vexed  Cranmer,  was 
the  impossibility  of  suppressing  the  many  superflu- 
ous holydays  ;  though  he  set  the  example  himself 
by  disregarding  the  festival  of  Thomas  a  Becket. 
He  considered  them  all  as  inlets  to  idleness  and 
disorder,  and  ruinous  to  the  families  of  laborers, 
besides  keeping  up  the  ancient  superstitions.  It 
was  with  much  regret  he  found  that  they  were  wel- 
comed and  observed  at  the  King's  Court,  where 
no  opportunity  of  a  popish  festival  was  disregarded. 
He  wrote  to  Cromwell  on  this  subject,  and  adds 
the  following  striking  sentence.  "  But,  my  lord, 
if  in  the  Court  you  do  keep  such  holydays  and 
fasting  days  as  be  abrogated,  when  shall  we  per- 
suade the  people  to  cease  from  keeping  them  ? 
For  the  King's  own  house  shall  be  an  example 
unto  all  the  realm,  to  break  his  own  ordinances." 
We  see,  in  this  spirited  remonstrance,  a  courage 
worthy  of  his  character. 

One  of  the  pleasantest  circumstances  that  oc- 
curred to  Cranmer  during  this  year,  was  the  com- 
pletion of  the  Bible  in  English,  in  one  great  folio 
volume,  known  by  the  name  of  (C  Matthew's  Bi- 
ble." This  name  was  fictitious,  as  it  was  trans- 
lated by  Coverdale  and  Tyndal.  The  melancholy 
fate  of  the  latter  may  not  be  passed  unnoticed. 
He  early  imbibed  the  doctrines  of  Luther,  and, 
after  residing  some  time  at  Cambridge,  went  to  the 
continent,  that  he  might,  with  greater  security, 


90  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

print  his  translation  of  the  New  Testament  into 
English.  At  Antwerp  he  was  seized  as  a  heretic, 
and  imprisoned.  Cromwell  wrote  for  his  release, 
and  many  interested  themselves  in  his  favor.  But 
in  vain  ;  he  was  condemned,  first  strangled,  and 
then  his  remains  burned  near  Antwerp.  So  great 
was  his  zeal  and  perseverance,  that  he  was  called 
the  u  Apostle  of  England."  * 

This  Bible  was  distributed  in  every  direction, 
and  one  was  chained  to  the  desk  of  each  of  the 
parochial  churches.  The  zeal  with  which  it  was 
read  and  sought  after  was  surprising.  Assem- 
blies of  mechanics  and  laborers  collected  to 
listen.  Youth  and  age  discovered  equal  eager- 
ness. Often  the  motley  group  were  seen  seated 
on  the  green  sward  around  the  lecturer  ;  for  not 
only  Bibles  were  rare,  but  readers  too.  There 
might  be  seen  the  old  man  bending  forward,  with 
his  grey  locks,  and  his  aged  partner  in  her  snowy 
kerchief,  with  decent  coif  thrown  back,  lest  a 
word  should  fall  unheeded  on  the  dull  ear  of  age. 
In  groups  behind,  sat  youths  and  maidens,  their 
little  interests  and  mutual  sympathies  suspended, 


*  The  corrector  of  the  translation  was  John  Rogers, 
the  martyr,  of  Primer  memory,  a  distinguished  divine  in 
Edward's  reign,  and  the  first  doomed  to  the  stake  under 
that  of  his  successor. 

Wiclif  had  translated  the  New  Testament  more  than 
a  century  before. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  91 

with  lips  unclosed  and  eager  eyes  fixed  on  the 
reader,  who  usually  chanted  forth  the  words  of 
Scripture,  and  sometimes  quickened  their  atten- 
tion by  involuntary  stops  at  strange  names,  or  un- 
familiar words.  Nor  must  childhood  be  left  out 
of  the  group.  Infants  in  their  mothers'  arms,  and 
children  too  young  to  remain  behind,  the  solitary 
tenants  of  the  cottage,  —  thoughtless  little  beings 
who  listen  for  a  few  moments,  and  then  sleep  or 
play. 

Often,  too,  when  the  services  of  the  Sabbath 
were  over,  which  were  prolonged  till  sunset,  a 
group  collected  to  hear  the  Bible  read  in  the 
grave-yard,  seating  themselves  on  the  mossy 
stones,  or  the  new  mounds  covered  with  fresh 
springing  grass.  Desolate  mourners  were  there, 
the  widowed  partner,  the  bereaved  mother  who 
had  buried  her  last  hope,  and  the  orphan  thrown 
on  the  wide  world.  O  !  what  to  them  must  have 
been  the  joy,  as  they  listened  !  "  I  am  the  res- 
urrection and  the  life ;  he  that  believeth  in  me, 
though  he  were  dead,  yet  shall  he  live."  And  is 
this  book  so  changed,  that  we  now  read  and  hear 
it  "  as  a  tale  that  is  told"  ?  Must  we  have  novelty 
to  stimulate  us  ?  or  are  its  precepts  and  its  prom- 
ises so  familiar  to  us,  that  they  no  longer  come  like 
"  tidings  of  great  joy  "  ? 

As  soon  as  the  translation  had  been  completed, 
Cranmer  sent  one  to  Cromwell,  requesting  him  to 


92  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

present  it  to  the  King.  This  Cromwell  did,  and 
the  Archbishop  writes  him  in  return,  that  "he 
had  thereby  made  his  memory  famous  to  posterity 
within  the  realm,  among  all  such  as  should  here- 
after be  favorers  of  God's  Word  ;  and  that  he 
should  hear  of  this  good  deed  of  his  at  the  last 
day.  That  for  his  part,  it  was  such  a  content  to 
his  mind,  that  he  could  not  have  done  him  a 
greater  pleasure  if  he  had  given  him  a  thousand 
pounds.  And  that  such  knowledge  would  ensue 
hereupon,  that  it  should  appear  he  had  done  ex- 
cellent service  both  to  God  and  the  King." 

It  must  not  be  forgotten,  that  Cranmer  first 
opened  this  book  to  the  people  ;  a  book  that  had 
been  so  long  sealed  to  those  who  most  required 
religious  instruction.* 

Another  book  about  this  time  was  published, 
called    the    Bishop's  Book.     Its    real  title  was, 

*  To  those  who  have  never  met  with  the  little  personal 
history  of  William  Maiden,  related  in  Strype's  "  Memori- 
als of  Cranmer,"  it  will  be  interesting  as  told  from  himself. 

"When  the  King  first  allowed  the  Bible  to  be  set  forth 
to  be  read  in  churches,  immediately  several  poor  men 
in  the  town  of  Chelmsford,  in  Essex,  where  his  father 
lived,  and  he  was  born,  bought  the  New  Testament,  and 
on  Sundays  sat  reading  of  it  in  the  lower  end  of  the 
church.  Many  would  flock  about  them  to  hear  their  read- 
ing; and  he  among  the  rest,  being  then  but  fifteen  years 
old,  came  every  Sunday  to  hear  the  glad  and  sweet  ti- 
dings of  the  Gospel.     But  his  father,  observing  it  once, 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  93 

"  The  Institution  of  a  Christian  Man."  This  was 
first  brought  forward  by  Cranmer,  but  it  after- 
wards took  the  name  of  the  King's  Book,  from 
being  republished  under  the  royal  license.  By 
the  Archbishop's  agency,  also,  the  Creed,  the 
Lord's  Prayer,  and  the  Ten  Commandments, 
were  allowed  to  be  taught  in  English. 

Thus  far,  Cranmer  had  proceeded,  and,  if  we 
look  back  to  the  time  when  he  was  raised  to  the 
primacy,  we  shall  be  astonished  at  the  progress 
of  reform.  The  King  was  wedded  to  the  Cath- 
olic forms,  and  had  not  the  Pope's  supremacy  in- 
terfered with  his  own,  he  would  have  suffered  him 

fetched  him  away  angrily,  and  would  have  him  to  say  the 
Latin  matins  with  him,  which  grieved  him  much.  This 
put  him  upon  the  thoughts  of  learning  to  read  English, 
that  so  he  might  read  the  New  Testament  himself,  which, 
when  he  had  by  diligence  effected,  he  and  his  father's 
apprentice  bought  the  New  Testament,  joining  their 
stocks  together;  and,  to  conceal  it,  laid  it  under  the  bed 
straw  and  read  it  at  convenient  times.  One  night,  his 
father  being  asleep,  he  and  his  mother  chanced  to  dis- 
course concerning  the  crucifix,  and  the  form  of  kneeling 
down  to  it,  and  knocking  on  the  breast,  and  holding  up 
the  hands  to  it  when  it  came  by  in  procession.  This,  he 
told  his  mother,  was  plain  idolatry,  and  against  the  com- 
mandment of  God,  where  he  saith, '  Thou  shalt  not  make 
any  graven  image,  nor  bow  down  to  it,  nor  worship  it.' 
His  mother,  enraged  at  him  for  this,  said,  'Wilt  thou  not 
worship  the  cross  which  was  about  thee  when  thou  wert 
christened,  and  must  be  laid  on  thee  when   thou   art 


94  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

to  enjoy  it  uninterruptedly.  In  several  instances, 
Cranmer  boldly  opposed  the  King,  particularly  in 
the  appropriation  of  the  wealth  of  religious  houses 
to  his  own  use.  He  had  already  seized  on  many 
of  the  monasteries,  and  at  length  Cranmer  spoke 
with  earnestness  on  the  subject,  and  proposed  va- 
rious schemes  for  throwing  this  treasure  into  use- 
ful channels.  "  Let  us  not,"  said  he,  "  consume 
it  for  the  purposes  of  luxury  ;  let  it  rather  be  ex- 
pended on  high  roads."  He  proposed  instituting 
colleges  of  priests,  composed  of  students  just  re- 
moved, and  well  recommended,  from  the  univer- 
sities.    They  were  to  be  under  control  of  the 

dead  ?  '  In  this  heat,  the  mother  and  son  departed,  and 
went  to  their  beds.  The  sum  of  this  evening's  confer- 
ence she  presently  repeats  to  her  husband,  which  he, 
impatient  to  hear,  and  boiling  in  fury  against  his  son  for 
denying  the  worship  due  to  the  cross,  arose  up  forthwith, 
and  goes  into  his  son's  chamber,  and,  like  a  mad  zealot, 
taking  him  by  the  hair  of  his  head,  pulled  him  out  of  the 
bed  and  whipped  him  unmercifully.  And  when  the  young 
man  bore  this  beating  with  a  kind  of  joy,  considering  it 
was  for  Christ's  sake,  and  shed  not  a  tear,  his  father, 
seeing  that,  was  more  enraged,  and  ran  down  and  fetched 
an  halter,  and  put  it  about  his  neck,  saying  he  would 
hang  him.  At  length,  with  much  entreaty  of  the  mother 
and  brother,  he  left  him  half  dead." 

We  surely  may  see  here  the  spirit  of  the  martyrs. 
Though  the  relation  was  not  made  till  Queen  Eliza- 
beth's reign,  the  circumstance  took  place  in  Henry  the 
Eighth's. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  95 

bishops,  who   might  promote  them,  according  to 
their  abilities,  to  parochial  charges. 

The  King,  however,  had  other  intentions,  and 
spoke  decisively  on  the  subject.  Immediately, 
all  gave  way  to  his  royal  will,  and  Cranmer  was 
left  alone  to  brave  the  storm.  He  still,  however, 
continued  his  opposition  ;  and  it  soon  began  to  be 
whispered  that  the  primate's  influence  was  greatly 
lessened,  the  Protestant  cause  tottering,  and  Gar- 
diner, the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  one  of  the 
leaders  of  the  Catholic  party,  rapidly  gaining 
ground. 

This  wily  statesman,  or  ecclesiastic,  as  the 
times  called  for,  thought  it  now  a  favorable  mo- 
ment to  strike  a  blow  at  the  Protestant  par- 
ty. He  was  aided  by  the  Duke  of  Norfolk  in 
this  enterprise,  and  their  representations  greatly 
moved  the  King.  Nothing,  however,  rescued  the 
monasteries  from  his  avarice.  Images,  shrines,  and 
relics  were  treated  as  rubbish,  and  even  Thomas 
a  Becket,  the  saint  of  Canterbury,  whose  tomb 
had  been  the  object  of  pilgrimages,  and  whose 
remains  had  performed  miracles,  for  centuries,  was 
now  doomed  to  be  tried  in  a  court  of  justice.  It 
was  thought  that  a  splendid  jewel,  formerly  be- 
stowed on  his  shrine  by  Louis  the  Seventh  of 
France,  greatly  increased  the  King's  zeal.  How- 
ever that  may  be,  he  cited  the  saint  to  appear  at 
Court,  and  had  him  tried   and  condemned  as  a 


96  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

traitor,  ordered  his  name  to  be  struck  out  of  the 
Calendar,  his  bones  to  be  burned,  and  the  ashes 
scattered  to  the  winds,  and  all  his  treasures  con- 
fiscated to  himself ! 

The  capricious  extravagance  with  which  he 
dispensed  the  wealth  thus  acquired  is  almost  in- 
credible, giving  abbeys  as  a  reward  to  a  cook  who 
had  dressed  a  dish  to  his  taste,  and  making  even 
more  disgraceful  donations. 

The  only  religious  question,  which  Henry 
through  his  life  supported  with  unwavering  zeal, 
was,  the  corporeal  presence  of  Christ  in  the 
eucharist.  Gardiner  represented  to  the  King, 
that  severe  persecution  of  those  who  denied  it 
would  establish  his  character  for  piety,  and  zeal 
against  heretics.  An  unfortunate  opportunity  pre- 
sented itself  in  the  person  of  John  Nicolson  or 
Lambert,  who  had  denied  the  real  presence.  He 
was  first  summoned  before  Cranmer,  who  mildly 
and  judiciously  strove  to  make  him  retract  a  pa- 
per that  he  had  sent  forth.  Unhappily  for  him,  he 
appealed  from  the  Archbishop  to  the  King.  The 
disgusting  parade  of  a  trial,  in  which  poor  Lambert 
was  silenced  by  the  learning  and  arguments  of  the 
King,  his  condemnation,  and  barbarous  execu- 
tion, all  are  too  well  known  to  need  a  repeti- 
tion ;  nor  would  it  have  now  been  alluded  to, 
but  as  a  proof  that  at  that   time  Cranmer  pro- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  97 

fessed  and  maintained  the  papist's  doctrine  of  the 
eucharist. 

Bonner,  about  this  time,  was  elected  as  succes- 
sor to  the  Bishop  of  Hereford.  He  had  early 
been  sent  to  Rome  to  plead  the  King's  cause  be- 
fore the  Pope,  Clement,  but  did  it  with  such  im- 
prudent zeal,  that  the  Holy  Father  threatened  to 
throw  him  into  a  caldron  of  boiling  lead,  and  he 
was  glad  to  make  his  escape.  Soon  after  his 
promotion,  it  became  evident  to  Cranmer  that  he 
favored  the  Catholic  cause. 

The  birth  of  an  heir  to  the  English  crown,  on 
the  12th  of  October,  1537,  produced  an  ex- 
travagant joy  in  the  feelings  of  the  King.  For 
eight-and-twenty  years  he  had  been  looking  for- 
ward to  a  successor  in  the  male  line.  The 
Queen  scarcely  lived  long  enough  to  participate 
in  the  general  joy,  or  to  comprehend  the  ecstatic 
feelings  of  a  mother.  She  died  a  few  hours  after 
the  birth  of  her  son. 

Of  Jane,  little  seems  to  be  said  in  history, 
except  that  her  conduct  was  full  of  meekness 
and  discretion.  Happily  for  herself,  she  did 
not  live  long  to  try  the  constancy  of  her  royal 
spouse. 

The  name  of  Edward  was  given  to  the  Prince 
at  his  baptism.  Archbishop  Cranmer,  the  Duke 
of  Norfolk,  and  the  Lady  Mary,  were  his  spon- 

7 


98  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

sors.  The  Lady  Elizabeth  at  that  time  was  but 
little  over  four  years  old.  A  letter  of  hers  is  re- 
corded by  Strype.  But  there  appears  to  be  but 
little  evidence  that  it  was  wholly  indited  by  a 
child. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  99 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

There  is  no  period  in  Cranmer's  life,  in 
which  his  resolute  and  unwearied  efforts  were 
more  faithfully  exerted,  than  in  his  endeavour  to 
convert  the  spoils  of  religious  houses  to  the  pur- 
poses of  learning  and  benevolence.  Those  noble 
buildings  which  have  since  become  the  residence 
of  owls  and  bats,  might,  had  the  Archbishop's 
voice  been  listened  to,  have  afforded  shelter  to 
the  sick  and  houseless,  or  have  been  converted 
into  colleges  and  hospitals.  But  these  required  the 
funds,  which  Henry  had  otherwise  appropriated. 
The  picturesque  ruins  of  many  an  ancient  build- 
ing, overgrown  with  ivy,  and  desolate  in  its  beau- 
ty, remain  to  tell  the  story  of  royal  cupidity,  and 
to  furnish  a  study  to  the  artist. 

The  Pope,  once  more,  had  recourse  to  excom- 
munication, and  declared  the  King  guilty  of  atro- 
cious crimes,  inviting  the  Scottish  monarch  to 
take  possession  of  the  British  throne.  But  the 
thunder  of  the  Vatican  communicated  as  little  ter- 
ror to  the  English  nation,  as  if  it  had  been  the 
music  of  the  spheres  ;  and  the  flashes  of  its  light- 


100  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ning  were  as  harmless  as  the  aurora  borealis  of  a 
winter  evening. 

Except  by  Cranmer,  the  interests  of  the  Ref- 
ormation were  feebly  promoted.  Cromwell  was 
regarded  with  disdain  by  the  aristocracy,  and  usu- 
ally styled,  by  way  of  contempt,  "the  blacksmith's 
son."  His  own  character  had  not  that  imposing 
power  that  puts  down  oblique  slanders.  He  was 
useful  to  the  King  and  unscrupulous  ;  but  Henry 
treated  him  with  little  deference.  Bishop  Lati- 
mer, though  fervent  and  sincere,  was  wholly  igno- 
rant of  character,  and  often  excited  ridicule  by 
his  ill-timed  zeal  and  simplicity.  His  sermons 
sometimes  lasted  three  hours,  and  Cranmer  took 
occasion  to  admonish  him  on  their  length,  as  also 
to  inculcate  worldly  wisdom.  Shaxton,  Bishop 
of  Salisbury,  was  greatly  deficient  in  discretion, 
and  was  continually  engaged  in  disputes  with  the 
reformed  clergy,  when  unanimity  was  all-important 
to  the  cause.  Bonner  had  been  promoted  to  the 
prelacy,  and  at  the  time  Cranmer  fully  relied  up- 
on him  as  a  cooperator  in  the  cause  of  Scriptural 
truth.  But  he  was  no  sooner  fixed  in  his  elevated 
station,  than  he  threw  off  the  mask. 

A  revolution  in  the  sentiments  of  the  King  be- 
came manifest.  A  new  Parliament  was  assem- 
bled. After  long  debate  it  ended  in  proposing  six 
articles  for  consideration. 

1st.    Whether  the  real  body   of    Christ  was 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  101 

present  in  the  eucharist,  without  any  transubstan- 
tiation. 

2d.  Whether  that  sacrament  should  be  admin- 
istered in  both  kinds  to  the  laity. 

3d.  Whether  the  vows  of  chastity,  made  by 
men  or  women,  are  binding  by  the  law  of  God. 

4th.  Whether  the  same  law  warrants  the  cele- 
bration of  private  masses. 

5th.  Whether  it  allows  the  marriage  of  priests. 

6th.  Whether  it  makes  auricular  confession 
necessary. 

Against  the  Romish  interpretation  of  these  ar- 
ticles, Cranmer  contended  with  unabated  zeal. 
All  the  powers  of  his  mind,  and  all  the  resolution 
of  his  character,  were  brought  to  the  contest. 
Nothing  could    exceed   the  heat  of  the  debate. 

Henry  at  length  appeared  in  person,  and  per- 
ceiving that  the  eloquent  opposition  of  Cranmer 
could  not  be  checked,  he  commanded  him  to  ab- 
sent himself  from  the  house. 

Cranmer  firmly  but  respectfully  refused  to 
comply.  "It  is  God's  cause,"  said  he,  "that 
keeps  me  here  ;  not  my  own." 

Henry  yielded  the  point,  to  the  astonishment 
of  all. 

There  can  be  no  greater  tribute  to  the  virtue 
of  Cranmer,  than  the  respect  he  always  com- 
manded from  the  despotic  and  overbearing  mon- 
arch. 


102  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

The  six  articles  were  adopted  in  their  fullest 
extent,  and  the  most  horrible  penalties  attached 
to  their  non-observance.  Latimer  and  Shaxton 
testified  their  abhorrence  of  this  measure  by  re- 
signing. For  a  moment,  it  must  shake  our  faith 
in  Cranmer's  virtue,  to  find  that  he  did  not  do  the 
same.  But  there  is  every  reason  to  suppose,  that 
he  realized  that  the  future  success  or  downfall  of 
the  Protestant  cause  rested  on  his  continuance  at 
his  post.  He  must  have  still  felt,  that,  though  he 
was  not  consulted  by  Henry  on  religious  affairs, 
as  formerly,  yet  his  influence  was  great  with 
him,  and  he  might  do  much  towards  promoting 
"the  reformed  doctrines.  We  doubt  not  that  he 
savw  the  murderous  scourge  uplifted,  and  hoped, 
in  some  measure,  to  avert  its  fury. 

The  exultation  of  the  Catholics  could  not  fail 
of  being  great.  Henry,  they  said,  was  fast  re- 
turning to  the  true  faith,  —  to  the  arms  of  the 
mother  Church. 

The  dejection  of  the  reformers  was  in  the 
same  proportion.  But  Cranmer,  over  and  above 
the  blight  thus  given  to  the  restoration  of  Scrip- 
tural Christianity,  had  reason  to  mourn  over  the 
destruction  of  his  domestic  happiness.  After  his 
precipitate  and  injudicious  marriage  with  the  niece 
of  Osiander,  he  did  not  venture  to  bring  her  to 
England,  but  left  her  to  the  painful  suspense  of  a 
temporary  separation.     His  wife,  who  seems  to 


CRANMER   AND  HIS   TIMES,  103 

have  been  a  second  Meta,  and  possessed  the  ten- 
derness and  truth  of  the  excellent  Klopstock's, 
acquiesced  in  a  measure  that  he  convinced  her 
was  the  wisest,  and  remained  in  Germany,  with 
her  uncle,  still  pursuing  her  household  occupa- 
tions, and  lightening  the  arduous  cares  that  must 
otherwise  have  pressed  upon  him. 

The  income  of  a  German  pastor  barely  sup- 
plied the  necessaries  of  life.  They  were  like  the 
early  patriarchs,  without  the  rich  flocks  of  Jacob 
and  of  Laban.  Their  pastures,  "  green  to  the 
very  door  "  of  the  dwelling,  domesticated  the  an- 
imals with  the  family.  The  humble  peasant  was 
welcome  to  their  meals,  and  the  poor  mendicant 
to  its  frugal  fragments.  The  time  of  the  minister 
was  his  treasure,  and  this  he  freely  dispensed  to 
the  sorrowful,  the  sick,  and  the  dying.  A  large 
portion,  however,  was  reserved  for  his  literary 
pursuits.  Every  sincere  Protestant  felt  himself 
bound  to  aid  the  cause  of  Luther  and  the  Refor- 
mation by  his  pen,  and  Meta,  by  taking  the  secu- 
lar cares  of  the  little  parsonage  upon  herself,  in- 
directly aided  the  cause.  While  Osiander  was 
deeply  engaged  in  polemic  works,  the  wife  of  the 
Primate  of  England  was  performing  the  humblest 
household  duties. 

The  time,  however,  arrived,  when  Cranmer 
thought  it  safe  to  send  for  her  to  England,  as  some 
suppose,  with  the  connivance  of  the  King.     At 


104  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

any  rate,  he  did  not  publicly  acknowledge  her, 
but  lived  with  her  in  great  harmony,  and  they  had 
several  children. 

The  late  act  of  the  six  articles,  which  struck 
directly  at  the  marriage  of  the  clergy,  determined 
the  Archbishop  to  send  her  immediately  back 
with  his  children  to  Germany.  He  had  most 
zealously  and  daringly  opposed  the  bill  ;  Strype 
says,  on  account  of  the  cruel  penalties  which 
guarded  it.  His  refusing  to  quit  the  Court,  when 
ordered  to  by  the  King,  filled  every  one  with  as- 
tonishment. His  friends  and  enemies  fully  ex- 
pected that  he  would  be  committed  to  the  Tower. 
On  the  contrary,  the  King  seems  to  have  felt  for 
the  distress  of  the  Archbishop. 

If  there  was  one  redeeming  point  in  Henry's  na- 
ture, it  was  his  faithful  attachment  to  a  man,  whose 
virtue  was  unquestionable.  Henry,  with  the  ca- 
price and  lightness  with  which  he  mixed  up  all 
affairs,  immediately  declared  his  intention  of  dining 
the  next  day  at  Lambeth  with  the  Archbishop,  and 
invited  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  Earl  of  Essex, 
and  all  the  peers  of  Parliament.  He  loved  to 
create  these  surprises  among  his  courtiers,  and 
disappoint  their  expectations. 

"  My  Lord  Archbishop,"  said  Essex,  ayou 
were  born  in  a  happy  hour.  You  can  do  nothing 
amiss.  Were  I  to  do  half  of  what  you  have 
done,  my  head  must  answer  for  it." 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  105 

We  at  times  have  attributed  to  Cranmer  a 
pliancy  to  the  King's  purposes,  that  evinces  a 
want  of  firmness  and  resolution,  perhaps  more 
the  deficiency  of  nature  than  of  principle.  This 
observation,  however,  of  Essex,  proves  the  inde- 
pendent ground  which  he  often  took.  The  visit 
to  Lambeth,  the  King  conceived,  would  effec- 
tually obviate  the  impression  that  many  enter- 
tained of  Cranmer's  declining  favor. 

However  comfortable  to  the  Archbishop  must 
have  been  the  assurance  of  the  King's  good 
graces,  we  can  easily  believe  he  would  willingly 
have  dispensed  with  this  demonstration  of  it. 
The  melancholy  conviction  was  just  forced  upon 
him,  that  Henry  was  returning  to  "  the  idolatry 
of  his  youth,"  and  that  he  must  part  with  a  be- 
loved wife  to  secure  her  safety.  Weary  and  irk- 
some must  have  been  the  festivity  to  which  the 
King  had  invited  his  peers. 

After  they  had  assembled,  Norfolk  arose  and 
signified  to  the  Primate  the  King's  pleasure,  that 
they  should  comfort  him  with  the  assurance  that 
the  good  will  of  his  Majesty  was  unimpaired 
towards  him  ;  that  he  had  shown  great  learning 
and  skill  in  the  opposition,  and  he  must  not  be 
discouraged  or  cast  down  at  the  unsuccessful 
result. 

Cranmer  professed  himself  deeply  grateful  for 
this   mark   of  royal   condescension,    and    replied 


r 


106  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

with  dignity,  that  he  hoped  the  time  might  arrive 
when  his  allegations  and  authorities  would  prevail, 
to  the  glory  of  God,  and  the  commodity  of  the 
realm. 

It  was  said  of  Cardinal  Wolsey,  that,  "  by  the 
violence  of  his  temper  in  managing  a  debate,  he 
would  often  change  his  friends  into  enemies. 
Whereas  the  Archbishop,  by  his  mildness,  made 
his  enemies  friends." 

Whatever  became  a  law  of  the  land,  Cranmer 
seems  to  have  made  it  a  principle  to  submit  to, 
however  earnestly  he  had  in  the  first  place  op- 
posed it.  He  now  felt  that  duty  required  him  to 
sacrifice  his  domestic  happiness  to  one  of  the  six 
articles,  the  celibacy  of  the  priesthood,  by  send- 
ing his  wife  and  children  to  Germany  ;  and  the 
King  no  sooner  heard  of  this  circumstance,  than 
he  sent  a  kind  and  consoling  message  to  him  by 
Cromwell,  the  vicar-general. 

Another  important  step  was  taken,  wholly  sub- 
versive of  English  liberty.  Parliament  gave  to 
Henry's  proclamations  the  force  of  law.  He 
had  only  to  issue  them  without  convening  the  Par- 
liament.     This  made  him  despotic. 

The  age  of  tilts  and  tournaments  was  past  with 
Henry,  but  he  determined  to  celebrate  his  tri- 
umph over  the  Court  of  Rome  by  a  naval  exhi- 
bition on  the  Thames.  Who  was  the  contriver 
of  this  exhibition  has  not  come  down  to  us,  but 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  107 

probably,  from  its  character,  Henry  was  the  sug- 
gested 

Two  galleys,  splendidly  equipped  and  deco- 
rated, one  with  the  royal,  the  other  with  the  pon- 
tifical arms,  were  seen  approaching  each  other  by 
a  numerous  crowd  of  spectators.  A  stubborn 
conflict  ensued.  The  Pope  and  Cardinals  were 
seated  in  full  view  on  the  deck.  At  first,  the 
royal  flag  seemed  in  some  peril  ;  but  suddenly  the 
royalists  were  seen  boarding  their  antagonist,  and 
in  a  few  moments  the  Pope  and  different  Cardi- 
nals were  successively  thrown  into  the  water, 
amidst  the  acclamations  of  the  King,  the  Court, 
and  the  citizens. 

Well  might  a  French  writer  say,  it  was  "  un 
jeu  de  pauvre  grace,  et  de  moindre  invention." 
We  can  hardly  imagine  a  less  ingenious  exhibition 
of  royal  dignity. 

Some  time  had  elapsed  since  Henry  became 
a  widower,  and  he  began  to  think  of  taking  an- 
other Queen.  After  much  debate,  he  was  pre- 
vailed on  by  Cromwell  to  fix  his  views  upon  Anne 
of  Cleves.  The  King  had  greatly  increased  in 
size  as  he  advanced  in  life,  and  he  now  stipulated 
that  the  partner  of  his  throne  should  not  be  infe- 
rior to  him  in  size. 

This  match  was  particularly  gratifying  to  the 
Protestant  party,  as  Anne's  sister  had  married 
the  Elector  of  Saxony,  and  her  father  had  great 


108  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

influence  among  the  Lutheran  princes.  Cranmer 
saw  that  this  might  produce  a  favorable  effect  up- 
on the  reformed  religion,  and,  of  course,  advised 
to  the  marriage. 

By  the  diligence  of  Cromwell,  a  picture  of 
Anne,  painted  by  Hans  Holbein,  was  obtained  for 
the  monarch.  With  this  he  was  so  much  en- 
chanted, that  he  became  extremely  impatient  for 
the  nuptials.  Anne  was  sent  by  her  father  to 
England,  and  Henry's  eagerness  to  behold  his 
bride  was  so  great,  that  he  went  privately  to 
Rochester  to  get  sight  of  her.  He  found  her 
big  to  his  heart's  content,  but  wholly  unlike  the 
flattered  portrait  by  Hans  Holbein. 

The  disappointment  and  indignation  of  the 
King  surpassed  all  bounds.  It  was  necessary, 
however,  that  he  should  throw  off  his  disguise, 
and  make  himself  known.  He  certainly  was  in 
no  state  to  "nourish  that  love,"  for  which  the 
disguise  was  assumed.  Her  features  were  coarse, 
her  manners  ungraceful,  and  her  figure  ill  propor- 
tioned. When  she  was  introduced  to  him,  he 
shrunk  back  ;  but  on  her  bending  the  knee,  he 
raised  her  up  and  kissed  her,  but  did  not  enter 
into  any  conversation.  After  a  short  time  he  re- 
tired to  his  own  apartment,  and,  sending  for  the 
lords  who  had  accompanied  him,  bemoaned  his 
miserable  lot. 

The  next  morning  he  hastened  back  to  Green- 


CRANMER  AND  HIS   TIMES.  109 

wich,  without  soliciting  an  interview  with  the 
Princess,  and  sent  for  Cromwell,  telling  him,  he 
must  show  as  much  dexterity  in  getting  rid  of 
Anne  as  he  had  in  bringing  her. 

Cromwell  was  really  perplexed  ;  and,  in  the 
first  place,  waited  on  the  princess,  and  secretly 
insinuating  that  so  many  charms  must  have  been 
an  object  of  contention,  endeavoured  to  inveigle 
her  into  a  confession  of  former  engagements. 
The  Princess,  however,  protested  with  great  sim- 
plicity, that  nothing  of  the  kind  had  occurred,  and 
that  she  came  with  a  willing  mind. 

The  King,  not  being  able  to  conjure  up  any 
excuse,  and  afraid  of  adding  the  German  princes 
to  his  already  numerous  enemies,  passionately  ex- 
claimed, "  Is  there,  then,  no  remedy  ?  Must  I 
put  my  neck  into  the  noose  ?" 

As  there  was  no  alternative,  the  ceremony 
took  place. 

Upon  further  acquaintance,  she  did  not  win 
upon  her  royal  husband.  She  spoke  only  Ger- 
man, possessed  no  accomplishments,  and  was 
wholly  unlike  what  he  desired.  How  to  get  rid 
of  her,  became  now  the  King's  object,  and  an- 
other Parliament  was  called.  It  is  said  that 
Cranmer  presided  over  it. 

What  was  the  ground  of  divorce,  it  is  difficult 
to  decide ;  but  the  most  prominent  reason  was, 
that  the  King  had  never  given  his  internal  consent. 


110  CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

Cromwell  had  hitherto  maintained  his  place  in 
Henry's  favor,  and  had  even  been  promoted  to 
high  honors.  But  symptoms  soon  appeared  after 
the  King's  marriage  with  Anne  of  Cleves,  that 
the  reign  of  the  courtier  was  near  its  end. 
Probably  his  agency  in  the  marriage  was  a  crime 
in  the  mind  of  the  tyrannical  monarch. 

But,  added  to  this,  a  new  flame  was  kindling  in 
the  heart  of  Henry.  Catharine  Howard  had  be- 
come the  object  of  his  affections  ;  and  Catharine 
wras  niece  to  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the  inveterate 
enemy  of  Cromwell,  and  easily  became  an  agent 
in  producing  his  disgrace. 

While  the  divorce  was  in  agitation,  Norfolk 
obtained  a  commission  from  the  King  to  arrest 
Cromwell  on  an  accusation  of  high  treason,  and 
convey  him  to  the  Tower.  Without  trial,  exam- 
ination, or  evidence,  he  was  condemned  to  death. 
His  fall  occasioned  great  rejoicing  to  Gardiner, 
the  Bishop  of  Winchester,  as  well  as  to  many 
others.  He  had  been  greatly  instrumental  in  the 
destruction  of  the  religious  houses  ;  and  those, 
who  had  before  flattered  and  crouched  to  him, 
now  exulted  and  triumphed.  His  faults  seem 
to  have  been  less  than  most  men's  to  whom  were 
intrusted  such  high  offices  in  the  reign  of  Henry 
the  Eighth,  who  had  a  wonderful  power  of  ren- 
dering subservient  to  his  will  all  around  him. 
Cranmer  wrote  a  letter  to  the  King  in  behalf  of 


CRAXMER    AXD    HIS    TIMES.  HI 

his  ally,  but  it  met  with  no  success.  Cromwell 
at  first  endeavoured  to  soften  the  King  by  suppli- 
cations for  mercy  ;  but,  when  brought  to  the  place 
of  execution,  he  met  his  fate  with  calmness. 
Thus  died  the  faithful  servant  and  friend  of  Wol- 
sey. 

After  the  marriage  with  Anne  was  annulled, 
Catharine  Howard  was  raised  to  the  throne  in  the 
same  year,  1540. 

Anne  seems  to  have  acquiesced  patiently  in  the 
decision.  Probably  she  returned  the  King's  aver- 
sion most  heartily.  When  he  offered  to  adopt 
her  as  a  sister,  and  to  make  a  settlement  of  three 
thousand  pounds,  she  readily  accepted  it,  and 
continued  to  live  at  Court,  with  the  new  Queen 
and  Henry's  daughter. 

It  seemed  now  to  be  generally  expected  that 
Cranmer's  disgrace  was  near.  He  had  dared  to 
intercede  for  Cromwell,  even  with  earnestness. 
"  I  pray  God,"  he  says  in  his  letter,  "  continu- 
ally, night  and  day,  to  send   such  a  counsellor  in 

his  place  whom  your  Grace  may  trust." 

"  If  he  be  a  traitor,  I  am  sorry  I  ever  trusted 
him,  and  am  glad  that  his  treason  is  discovered  in 
time.  Alas  !  I  bewail  your  Grace  herein,  for  I 
know  not  whom  your  Grace  may  trust."  He 
says,  he  knows  none  who  can  and  will  serve  his 
Grace  like  him. 

Cranmer  stood   now  almost  alone  ;  yet  it  does 


112  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES 

not  appear  that  he  yielded  to  the  discouragement 
of  his  situation.  The  six  articles  had  operated 
on  all  classes,  and  were  continually  bringing  to 
the  stake  and  the  scaffold,  martyrs  of  every  de- 
scription. The  friends  to  papal  authority  were 
arrested  and  condemned  for  denying  the  suprem- 
acy of  the  King  ;  the  opposers  of  the  Pope 
for  denying  the  doctrine  of  the  real  presence  ;  in 
short,  Henry  had  contrived  to  supply  martyrs, 
till  judges,  jailers,  and  executioners  were  weary 
of  their  work. 

Articles  were  now  brought  forward  by  the 
Romanists,  and  offered  to  Cranmer  for  his  appro- 
bation, probably  thinking  this  was  a  suitable  time 
to  intimidate  him.  They  represented  to  him, 
that  the  King  was  determined  on  the  adoption  of 
these  articles,  and  warned  him  to  avoid  the  fate 
of  Cromwell  by  any  opposition.  They  undoubt- 
edly relied  on  the  flexibility  of  Cranmer's  char- 
acter when  the  will  of  the  King  was  made  known. 
But  in  this  instance  he  had  a  higher  reference, 
—  the  truth.  "  Beware,"  said  he,  "  what  you 
do.  The  truth  is  but  one  ;  and,  though  the  King 
is  now  under  sinister  information,  the  truth  will 
not  long  be  hidden  from  him." 

Still  they  persevered,  and  determined  that 
such  articles  should  be  published  as  would  effect- 
ually reestablish  the  Roman  Catholic  dominion, 
with  its  forms   and  ceremonies,  to  which,  they 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  H3 

were  aware,  the  King  was  in  his  heart  attached, 
still  scrupulously  guarding  the  title  bestowed  up- 
on him  by  Leo  the  Tenth,  "  Defender  of  the 
Faith." 

Perhaps  this  was  the  first  time  in  the  Arch- 
bishop's life  that  he  determined  to  resist  to  the 
death.  We  have  seen  him  wanting  resolution  in 
cases,  which,  to  us,  have  appeared  important ; 
but  distant  events  come  to  us  under  a  misty  at- 
mosphere, and  historians  possess  no  power  of  dif- 
fusing unclouded  sunshine.  We  rejoice,  that  here, 
at  least,  he  requires  no  interpreter.  When  he 
found  the  ark,  that  he  had  so  long  watched  over, 
in  danger,  regardless  of  the  imperious  will  of  the 
King,  of  the  machinations  of  the  Romanists,  and 
of  the  persuasions  of  those  who  had  hitherto  been 
friendly  to  the  Protestant  cause,  alone  and  un- 
shielded, except  by  what  he  styled  the  armour  of 
truth,  the  prelate  forced  his  way  to  the  presence 
of  the  King,  to  the  monarch  whose  nod  was  fate. 
Even  Luther  would  have  looked  approvingly 
upon  a  self-abandonment  so  entire,  to  the  cause 
of  truth. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  Cranmer  had 
none  of  the  constitutional  courage  or  enthusiasm 
of  the  Saxon  reformer.  He  was  a  man  com- 
posed of  milder  elements.  Luther  was  form- 
ed to  stem  or  guide  the  whirlwind  ;  Cranmer 
stood  aside  to  let  it  pass,  and   then  strove  with 

8 


114  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

patient  industry  to  repair  the  ruins  it  had  caused, 
and  build  up  the  fallen  edifices.  It  was  no  hard- 
ship to  Luther  to  go  forth  to  the  battle  ;  it  was 
consistent  with  the  ardour  of  his  nature.  Cran- 
mer  shrunk  from  warfare,  and  all  opposition  in 
him  to  the  will  of  the  King  arose  from  unmixed 
principle. 

The  frowns  of  the  monarch  at  Cranmer's  in- 
trusion, were  decisive  in  the  minds  of  his  adver- 
saries. With  a  cold,  suppressed  manner  that  was 
portentous,  he  merely  desired  the  primate  to 
draw  up  such  articles  as  he  was  willing  to  sub- 
scribe to.  Cranmer  set  himself  at  once  about  it. 
In  the  mean  time,  his  enemies  exulted,  and  many 
wagers  were  laid  in  London  that  he  would  be 
committed  to  the  Tower,  and  share  the  fate  of 
Cromwell.  What,  then,  was  their  astonishment, 
when  they  found  that  the  King  had  not  only  en- 
dured his  opposition,  but  adopted  his  articles  ! 

The  reflection  cannot  but  arise  to  the  mind, 
that,  perhaps,  had  he  taken  the  same  decided 
ground  in  the  case  of  Anne  Boleyn,  her  life 
might  have  been  spared.  This,  however,  is 
wholly  doubtful  ;  and  there  were  still  greater  pub- 
lic interests  at  stake  than  the  life  of  an  individual, 
the  vital  existence  of  religious  truth.  Cranmer 
acquired  his  power  over  Henry  by  the  wisdom, 
prudence,  and  forbearance  of  his  counsels. 

A   new   antagonist    to   the   Archbishop    had 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  115 

sprung  up,  in  Bonner,  Bishop  of  London.  Crom- 
well was  his  patron  and  friend,  and,  while  he  lived, 
he  had  promoted  the  reformation  ;  but  it  now  be- 
came evident,  that  he  meant  to  pursue  a  different 
course.  The  free  reading  of  the  Scriptures  he 
represented  as  giving  rise  to  a  multitude  of  opin- 
ions, hostile  to  true  religion,  and  represented  to 
the  King  that  the  very  Bible  which  had  been  pre- 
pared in  France,  under  his  own  patronage  and 
protection,  should  be  suppressed.  It  had  been 
reprinted  in  England,  enriched  by  a  noble  preface 
by  Cranmer,  and  was  issued  in  a  large  folio  by 
the  name  of  "  Cranmer's  Bible."  This  repre- 
sentation so  far  prevailed,  that  the  public  perusal 
of  the  Scriptures  was  suppressed,  and  never  again 
permitted  during  Henry  the  Eighth's  reign. 

The  Cathedral  of  Canterbury  was  solemnly 
restored,  under  the  auspices  of  Cranmer,  from  the 
monastic  state  of  a  priory,  into  a  deanery.  This 
was  about  1540.  After  the  removal  of  the  monks, 
the  next  object  of  Cranmer  was  to  attach  a  gram- 
mar school  to  the  Cathedral.  It  is  amusing  to 
observe  the  aristocratic  notions  that  at  that  time 
prevailed.  It  was  insisted  that  the  children  of 
mechanics  and  ploughmen  should  be  excluded,  and 
only  gentlemen's  sons  admitted.  The  Arch- 
bishop strenuously  opposed  this  idea.  He  made 
use  of  the  same  arguments  that  occur  at  the  pres- 
ent day.     He  said,  that,  though  there  must  be  la- 


116  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

boring  men,  they  ought  to  have  the  advantages  of 
education,  and  not  be  deprived  of  the  chance  of 
emerging  from  a  state  of  indigence  and  drudgery  ; 
that  we  had  no  right  to  defraud  the  public  of  the 
powers  which  God  had  distributed  among  the 
lower,  as  well  as  the  more  exalted  classes  of  so- 
ciety. "  If  the  gentleman's  son,"  said  the  en- 
lightened prelate,  u  be  apt  for  learning,  let  him 
be  admitted  ;  if  not  apt,  let  the  poor  man's  child 
that  is  apt  be  admitted  in  his  room."  * 

We  now  are  called  to  contemplate  the  Arch- 
bishop in  a  new  situation,  which,  were  it  not  so 
intimately  connected  with  his  biography,  we  should 
gladly  pass  over. 

Henry  appears  to  have  been  perfectly  attached 
to  his  new  Queen,  Catharine  Howard.  He  de- 
termined to  make  known  his  piety  and  domestic 
happiness  together,  and,  on  All-Saints  day,  re- 
ceived the  sacrament  in  the  royal  chapel  at 
Hampton  Court.  This  seems  to  have  been  done 
to  afford  him  an  opportunity  of  proclaiming  his 
conjugal  felicity,  and  returning  thanks  to  Almighty 
God  for  bestowing  on  him  the  blessing  of  so  ad- 
mirable and  virtuous  a  Queen. 

Catharine  knelt  by  his  side,  probably  in  per- 
fect security.  Had  any  inquietude  disturbed  her 
mind,  from  the  recollection  of  past  events,  it  was 

*  Strype's  "  Memorials  of  Cranmer." 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  117 

now  removed,  and  her  station  on  the  throne  firm- 
ly fixed. 

Lady  Rochfort,  the  enemy  of  Anne  Boleyn 
and  her  own  husband,  and  now  the  intimate  friend 
and  companion  of  the  Queen,  partook  in  her 
elevation.  If  her  accusations  of  the  unfortunate 
Anne  were  false,  where  was  now  the  retribution 
of  Heaven  ?  She  had  stood  firm  for  years,  and 
at  last  risen  with  the  present  Queen  to  royal 
favor. 

The  august  ceremony  over,  the  King  and  his 
consort,  with  Lady  Rochfort,  retired,  followed 
by  the  envy  of  the  multitude.  The  next  morn- 
ing it  was  Cranmer's  appalling  task  to  inform  his' 
Majesty,  that  the  Queen  was  wholly  unworthy  of 
her  high  station  ! 

Again  we  pause  over  the  office  of  the  Arch- 
bishop. Must  the  horrid  tale  be  told,  and  the 
throne  again  be  deluged  with  blood  ?  In  modern 
times,  though  all  the  world  might  have  whispered 
it,  we  think  no  one  would  have  risked  his  own 
life  by  directly  divulging  it  to  the  party  concern- 
ed. The  guilt  of  Catharine  was  imparted  to 
Cranmer  in  a  manner  that  left  no  uncertainty. 
She  might  be,  and  was,  quite  good  enough  for 
the  monarch  ;  but  the  British  throne  was  a  sta- 
tion that  called  for  high  and  unblemished  virtue. 
Cranmer  had  no  choice ;  what  others  dared  not 
do,  he  dared,  and  wrote  to  the  King,  revealing 


118  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  horrible  tale.  There  was  a  fair  investigation, 
and  Catharine,  and  Lady  Rochfort,  her  abettor 
and  probably  her  corrupter,  were  led  to  the  block 
in  1542. 

Because  we  do  not  see  the  lightning  or  hear 
the  thunder  of  heaven  to-day,  shall  we  believe 
that  it  is  powerless  ?  To-morrow  is  ever  near. 
What  must  have  been  this  guilty  woman's  sensa- 
tions, when  doomed  to  suffer  the  death  of  her 
victim,  Anne  Boleyn  ? 


CRAJSTMER   AND    HIS    TIMES.  119 


CHAPTER  IX. 

It  is  not  remarkable  that  the  struggle  should 
have  continued  unabated  between  the  ancient  and 
the  reformed  principles,  for  Henry's  sentiments 
were  precisely  calculated  to  keep  it  alive.  It 
must  be  confessed,  too,  that  there  was  a  strange 
mixture  of  notions  in  Cranmer's  theology.  It  was, 
as  yet,  but  the  twilight  of  reform  ;  but  it  was 
morning  twilight,  and  gradually  approaching  day, 
while  the  Scriptures  were  open  to  the  communi- 
ty; but,  after  the  royal  injunction  was  issued,  that 
"  the  Scriptures  should  not  generally  be  read  by 
laymen,  and  the  King's  Book  be  substituted  for 
it,  which  contained  every  thing  necessary  for  a 
Christian  man  to  know,  and  that  the  King  and 
policy  of  the  realm  restrained  the  reading  of  the 
sacred  volume,"  we  must  consider  the  clouds  as 
again  obscuring  the  horizon. 

Some  months  had  passed  since  the  Archbishop 
had  held  a  visitation  at  his  diocese  of  Canterbury. 
When  he  went,  he  was  greatly  distressed  to  find 
what  progress  had  been  made  in  restoring  the 
ancient  superstitions,  suchas  ringing  bells  to  still 
the  thunder  and  drive   away  devils,  and  various 


120  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

other  follies.  The  Carnival  was  celebrated,  in  all 
its  extravagance,  with  maskers,  &c.  He  immedi- 
ately assembled  the  prebendaries  and  preachers  in 
his  consistory,  and  exhorted  and  reasoned  with 
them,  and  reproved  them.  He  endeavoured  to 
convince  them,  that  image  and  idol  bore  the  same 
signification, —  one  being  Greek,  the  other  Latin. 
It  does  not  appear  that  his  representations  had 
the  desired  effect.  He  then  proceeded  to  appoint 
six  preachers,  three  Catholic  and  three  Protes- 
tant divines.  This  measure,  instead  of  restoring 
peace,  introduced  so  much  discord,  that  Cranmer 
was  obliged  to  declare  that  it  was  the  King's 
pleasure  that  it  should  be  so. 

Amidst  the  commotions  that  agitated  the  reli- 
gious world,  secular  affairs  were  not  forgotten.  It 
began  to  be  rumored  that  Henry  had  determined 
to  raise  a  sixth  wife  to  the  honor  of  the  throne. 
This  proved  to  be  Catharine  Parr,  the  widow  of 
Lord  Latimer.  This  connexion  was  favorable  to 
the  reform,  as  she  was  known  to  lean  towards 
those  doctrines.  She  was  a  woman  of  fine  ac- 
complishments and  great  knowledge  of  human 
nature,  and  often  dexterously  flattered  Henry  by  a 
slight  opposition  to  his  opinions,  and  allowing  her- 
self afterwards  to  be  silenced,  if  not  convinced. 
Probably  she  secretly  exerted  her  influence  with 
the  King  in  mitigating  the  severity  of  the  six  arti- 
cles. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  121 

Gardiner,  Bishop  of  Winchester,  began  to  fear, 
that,  by  the  aid  of  the  Queen  and  Cranmer,  his 
own  efforts  might  be  frustrated  ;  he  determined, 
therefore,  to  strike  a  decisive  blow  at  the  primate. 
For  this  purpose,  he,  with  the  aid  of  several  oth- 
ers, contrived  a  plot  to  ruin  the  Archbishop  in  the 
King's  favor.  A  regular  scheme  was  organized, 
and  many  private  meetings  were  held.  They  drew 
up  a  long  set  of  charges  against  him,  which  they 
knew  would  be  most  offensive  to  the  King,  such 
as  accusing  Cranmer  of  oppressing  all  preachers 
who  refused  to  promote  the  new  doctrine,  and  of 
holding  a  constant  correspondence  with  the  here- 
tics of  Germany.  When  the  articles  of  accusa- 
tion were  completed,  they  were  delivered  to  the 
Council,  and  afterwards  deposited  in  the  hands  of 
the  King. 

It  does  not  appear  that  Henry  was  a  weak 
monarch,  except  where  his  passions  bore  sway. 
His  Majesty  read  the  papers  carefully  and  thought- 
fully, and  then,  addressing  the  Chancellor,  said  ; 
"  I  command  you  to  see  the  witnesses  ;  let  them 
speak  boldly  and  fearlessly  of  things  that  come 
within  their  knowledge,  fearing  none  but  God  and 
the  King." 

It  occurred  to  the  mind  of  Henry,  that  Gardi- 
ner had  been  detected  in  plotting  against  some 
others  of  the  Court  a  few  days  before,  and  he 
conceived  a  strong  suspicion  that  the  Bishop  was 


122  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  instigator  of  these  accusations.  There  can 
be  no  more  decided  evidence,  that  the  monarch 
began  already  to  heartily  dislike  Gardiner,  than 
these  suspicions  ;  indeed,  he  had  never  treated 
him  with  much  deference,  though  often  influenced 
by  his  opinions.  After  debating  with  himself  the 
best  manner  of  proceeding,  he  ordered  his  barge, 
and  determined  to  proceed  to  Lambeth,  and  take 
the  articles  of  accusation  with  him.  He  con- 
cealed the  book  in  the  loose  hanging  sleeves  of  his 
dress.  Gardiner  and  his  confederates,  who  were 
constantly  on  the  watch,  were  now  exulting  at 
what  they  believed  the  success  of  their  con- 
spiracy. 

When  the  King's  barge  neared  the  steps  by 
the  water-side  at  Lambeth,  the  Primate  immedi- 
ately made  his  appearance.  The  King  called  to 
him  to  come  into  the  barge,  and  said,  "  O  my 
chaplain,  now  I  know  who  is  the  greatest  heretic 
in  Kent.  Look  at  these  papers,  and  see  the 
names  of  the  Kentish  ministers  against  their  di- 
ocesan." 

Cranmer  took  the  book,  opened  it,  and  read 
the  names  of  members  of  his  own  church,  of 
magistrates  whom  he  had  treated  with  kindness, 
and  believed  his  fast  friends.  He  looked  at  the 
King  with  agitation  and  surprise,  but  grief  and 
sorrow  were  the  prevailing  emotions.     Kneeling 


CRAXMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  123 

before  the  King,  he  requested  and  urged  an  im- 
mediate trial. 

"  I  implore  your  Majesty,"  said  he,  "  to  let 
the  whole  affair  be  at  once  investigated  by  a  com- 
mission." 

"  That  it  shall  be,"  said  Henry,  "  and  I  now 
name  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury  as  commis- 
sioner, with  such  colleagues  as  he  himself  shall  be 
pleased  to  appoint." 

"  Nay,  Sire,"  replied  Cranmer,  "  let  not  your 
Highness  give  cause  for  the  imputation  of  par- 
tiality.  I  demand  only  a  fair  hearing  and  a  fair 
investigation." 

The  King  persisted  in  his  determination,  and 
gave  to  the  Primate  the  unpleasant  task  of  unrav- 
elling the  plot  against  himself ;  a  painful  and 
somewhat  undignified  office  for  the  prelate,  as  his 
innocence  might  have  been  as  effectually  estab- 
lished without  his  agency.  But  Henry  delighted 
in  torturing,  as  well  as  condemning,  his  victims. 

One  of  the  conspirators  proved  to  be  a  man 
by  the  name  of  Thornden.  He  was  formerly  a 
monk  of  Canterbury,  and  was  afterwards  made 
Bishop  of  Dover.  The  Archbishop  had  taken 
pains  to  do  away  all  unpleasant  recollections,  had 
invited  him  to  his  own  table,  and  treated  him  like 
a  son  ;  and  he  it  was,  who  was  now  conspiring 
against  the  honor  and  reputation  of  his  benefactor. 
The  whole  affair  was  soon  laid  open,  every  indi- 


124  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

vidual  concerned  in  it  detected,  and  the  King 
left  them  to  the  mercy  of  the  Archbishop,  only 
saying,  that  burning  was  too  mild  a  punishment. 

The  Primate  received  from  all  the  most  humble 
petitions  for  mercy,  (the  Bishop  of  Winchester 
affected  to  have  been  too  much  engaged  to  attend 
seriously  to  the  accusations) ;  the  prebendary  Gar- 
diner, a  relation  of  the  Bishop's,  with  Thornden 
and  Barber,  on  whom  Cranmer  had  settled  a  pen- 
sion, actually  crawled  to  the  feet  of  the  Primate, 
having  previously  besought  his  forgiveness  in  a 
letter,  styling  him  "most  honorable  father." 

The  Primate  ordered  them  to  rise,  stated  to 
them,  in  a  mild  and  dignified  manner,  the  injustice 
and  perfidy  of  which  they  had  been  guilty  towards 
him,  and  then  proceeded  to  pass  sentence.  This 
was  a  full  and  complete  pardon. 

Some  of  the  courtiers,  overcome  with  surprise, 
exclaimed,  "  Do  my  Lord  of  Canterbury  a  shrewd 
turn,  and  he  is  your  friend  for  life." 

The  Viceroy  of  Naples,  in  the  month  of  De- 
cember, was  about  visiting  England.  Cranmer, 
on  his  embassy  several  years  before,  had  received 
much  kindness  from  him  and  his  friends.  The 
Archbishop  was  gratified  at  an  opportunity  of  re- 
turning these  civilities,  and  made  all  necessary 
preparations  for  the  Viceroy  and  his  suite  to  re- 
main with  him  at  Canterbury. 

Cranmer,  desirous,  for  the  honor  of  the  King, 


CRANNER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  125 

that  nothing  should  be  wanting  to  his  reception, 
departed  in  some  measure  from  the  usual  plain- 
ness of  his  style  to  make  welcome  the  Neapoli- 
tan. A  few  nights  before  his  arrival,  and  after 
the  palace  had  been  made  ready  for  the  distin- 
guished guest,  the  cry  of  fire  was  heard,  and  the 
building  was  instantly  in  flames.  The  confusion 
and  terror  were  great  ;  it  was  vain  attempting  to 
save  any  article  of  furniture.  The  books  of  the 
Archbishop  and  such  papers  as  he  had  with  him 
were  burnt.  But  scarce  had  he  breathed  after 
his  own  escape,  when  a  tale  of  horror  was  an- 
nounced to  him  ;  his  brother-in-law  had  fallen  a 
victim  to  the  flames.  The  distress  and  deep  de- 
pression of  the  Archbishop,  for  some  time  unfit- 
ted him  for  any  exertion. 

Hitherto  the  King  had  lived  harmoniously  with 
his  Queen.  His  infirmities  and  ill  health  required 
devoted  attention.  Catharine  performed  every 
office  for  him  with  the  utmost  cheerfulness,  and, 
though  his  irritability  and  ill  temper  made  him  an 
object  of  terror  to  all  about  him,  she  remained 
continually  at  her  post.  As  the  King  preserved 
his  fondness  for  theological  discussions,  he  some- 
times proposed  questions  to  her  of  high  import. 
At  one  time,  the  earnestness  of  her  feelings  led 
her  to  oppose  his  opinions  with  Zealand  argument. 
Henry's  brow  grew  clouded,  and  he  dismissed 
her  from  his  presence,   and  sent   for   Gardiner. 


126  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

The  Bishop  found  him  in  a  state  of  great  excite- 
ment. 

"  Dost  thou  know,"  said  the  angry  monarch, 
u  that  we  have  been  bearded  to  our  face  ?  " 

"  What  means  your  Majesty  ?  "  exclaimed 
Gardiner. 

"  It  is  even  so,  and  by  a  woman  ;  one  that  we 
have  raised  to  share  our  throne  and  honors.  She 
has  this  day  proved  herself  a  rank  heretic,  and 
deserving  of  fire  and  fagot." 

"  Can  it  be,  Sire,  your  most  noble  Queen,  the 
partner  of  your  glory,  that  has  thus  forgotten  her- 
self?" exclaimed  the  prelate.  "Alas!  I  feared 
that  she  had  sometimes  overlooked  her  duty  to 
you,  in  the  zeal  with  which  she  has  espoused  the 
opinions  of  the  Archbishop.  In  truth,  my  Lord 
of  Canterbury  is  well  minded  to  make  converts  of 
the  Queens  of  England  ;  but  I  little  thought  she 
would  have  presumed  to  express  her  heretical 
opinions  to  the  Head  of  the  Church  and  Defend- 
er of  the  Faith." 

"  What  said  you  of  my  Lord  of  Canterbury  ? " 
said  Henry,  his  face  convulsed  with  passion. 

Gardiner  trembled  ;  for  well  he  knew  Henry 
bore  no  allusion,  however  remote,  to  Anne  Bo- 
leyn,  and  thunderbolts  were  launched  indiscrim- 
inately around  him. 

"  I  remarked  to  your  Majesty,"  said  Gardiner, 
"that,  if  Cranmer  had  made  a    convert    of  the 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  127 

Queen  of  England,  the  more  elevated  the  person, 
the  greater  was  the  crime." 

"  Thou  art  right,"  said  the  monarch. 

"  By  chastising  one  whom  your  Majesty  has 
hitherto  loaded  with  favors,  the  greater  will  be 
the  terror,  and  the  more  glorious  the  sacrifice." 

"  It  is  even  so,"  said  Henry;  "  order  Wris- 
thesly  to  draw  up  articles  of  impeachment." 

"  Nothing  but  death  can  atone  for  such  temer- 
ity," exclaimed  Gardiner  ;  "  against  whom  is  the 
bill  to  be  made  out  ?" 

"  Catharine,  Queen  of  England,"  replied  the 

King. 

The  Bishop  of  Winchester  started  with  sur- 
prise, for  he  aimed  at  Cranmer.  Again  the 
Archbishop  had  escaped  his  snares.  But  he 
hoped  that  Cranmer  might  be  the  next  victim. 

Catharine  knew  her  royal  consort  too  well  not 
to  feel  that  she  had  grievously  offended  him. 
Wristhesly  drew  up  the  paper  ;  but,  fearing  the  ca- 
pricious temper  of  Henry,  brought  the  instrument 
to  him  to  be  signed,  as  it  was  high  treason  to 
throw  slander  upon  the  Queen.  As  he  left  the 
royal  presence,  he  accidentally  dropped  the  pa- 
per, which  was  picked  up  by  one  of  the  Queen's 
friends.  Wristhesly  returned  for  it,  but  not  be- 
fore the  contents  had  been  discovered.  They 
were  immediately  communicated  to   the  Queen. 

Catharine  saw  at  once  her  danger,  and  that  it 


128  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

was  only  by  stratagem  she  could  avoid  the  evil. 
She  had  no  generous  foe  to  deal  with,  but  a  cruel, 
selfish  tyrant.  When  the  hour  for  her  attendance 
came,  she  went  as  usual  to  the  King's  apart- 
ment, and  began  performing  the  offices  of  a 
nurse.  Probably  Henry's  wrath  had  somewhat 
abated  ;  for,  while  she  was  busy  on  her  knees  be- 
fore him,  engaged  in  menial  services,  he  renewed 
the  conversation,  and  challenged  her  to  an  argu- 
ment. 

"  Nay,  my  Lord,"  said  she  with  humility,  tc  it 
would  ill  become  me  to  argue  with  your  Majesty. 
I  know  too  well  my  place.  Women,  by  their 
creation,  were  made  subject  to  men.  Adam  was 
first  created  in  his  kingly  glory,  the  image  of  his 
maker  ;  then  Eve  was  created  the  image  of  her 
husband.  In  all  cases,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  wife 
to  adopt  implicitly  the  sentiments  of  her  husband. 
But  how  much  is  it  mine,  who  am  blessed  with  a 
husband  who  is  the  Head  of  the  Church  ?  who  is 
not  only  qualified  to  choose  principles  for  his  own 
family,  but  for  every  nation,  and  who  is  justly 
styled  the  Head  of  the  Church  and  Defender  of 
the  Faith  ? " 

As  Catharine  proceeded,  the  countenance  of 
Henry  grew  more  serene,  and,  by  the  time  she 
ended,  few  husbands  could  have  worn  a  more  sat- 
isfied expression.  Still,  however,  he  exclaimed, 
"  Not   so  !  by  Saint  Mary,  you  are  become  a 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  129 

doctor,  Kate  ;  and  better  fitted   to  give  than  to 
receive  instruction." 

"  Good  my  Lord,"  replied  Catharine,  "  do 
not  scoff  at  your  poor  wife  by  giving  her  praise 
she  so  poorly  deserves.  I  consider  it  my  duty 
not  to  decline  any  conversation  your  Majesty  may 
graciously  please  to  suggest.  Indeed,  I  some- 
times try,  by  my  feeble  opposition,  to  provoke 
you  to  further  remarks,  when  I  perceive  you  are 
disposed  to  drop  the  topic  ;  knowing,  full  well, 
that  not  a  sentence  can  fall  from  your  lips,  from 
which  I  shall  not  reap  profit  and  instruction." 

"  Is  it  so,  sweetheart  ?  "  said  he  ;  "  nay,  then, 
let  us  embrace  and  be  friends.  Depend  upon  it, 
Kate,  no  one  shall  injure  thee  while  thou  hast 
such  a  docile  and  teachable  mind,  and  such  true 
love  and  reverence  for  thy  husband." 

The  next  day  the  Chancellor  came  to  escort 
her  to  the  Tower,  pursuant  to  the  King's  warrant. 
Henry  was  walking  in  the  garden,  leaning  on  the 
arm  of  his  consort,  for  he  walked  with  difficulty. 
He  moved  to  a  little  distance  and  spoke  low  to 
the  Chancellor,  but  at  length  seemed  to  fall  into 
one  of  his  furious  fits  of  passion,  calling  him 
knave,  fool,  and  beast,  in  a  loud  voice,  and  order- 
ing him  to  quit  his  presence.  The  astonished 
Chancellor,  with  his  forty  pursuivants,  stood 
aghast.  Catharine,  who  perfectly  understood  the 
scene,  now  gently  approached. 

9 


130  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

"  Let  me  intercede  with  your  Majesty  for  this 
poor  man,"  said  she,  "  who  has  had  the  misfor- 
tune to  displease  you  !  " 

"  Nay,  poor  soul,"  replied  the  King,  "  you 
know  not  how  ill  entitled  is  '  this  poor  man  9  to 
your  good  offices." 

From  this  time,  Catharine  took  care  to  act  the 
part  of  a  prudent  and  exemplary  wife,  and  never 
to  contradict  her  husband. 

Hitherto  all  plots  against  Cranmer  had  re- 
bounded against  the  contrivers.  But  the  mitiga- 
tion of  the  severity  of  the  six  articles,  (which 
may  be  found  in  Strype's  and  Burnet's  Histories,) 
was  too  obviously  the  work  of  the  Archbishop 
for  his  enemies  to  forgive.  To  counteract  the 
operations  of  the  King,  had  been  at  all  times  a 
perilous  undertaking.  But  he  had  become  by 
bodily  infirmity,  more  passionate  and  arbitrary  than 
ever.  The  voice  of  truth  seldom  reached  his  ear. 
The  six  bloody  articles,  as  they  were  sometimes 
called,  and  sometimes  the  six-lashed  scourge, 
were  peculiarly  the  work  of  his  own  hands,  and 
had  the  singular  merit  of  including  Protestants 
and  Catholics  in  the  same  punishment.  The 
Protestants  who  denied  the  real  presence  of 
Christ  in  the  bread  and  wine,  and  refused  to  be- 
lieve that  it  was  his  body  they  literally  ate,  and 
his  blood  they  drank,  and  the  Catholics  who  de- 
voutly and  conscientiously  believed  this,  but  still 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  131 

maintained  the  supremacy  of  the  Pope,  were  both 
placed  on  the  same  hurdle  and  carried  to  the 
stake. 

Cranmer  had  been  promised  the  aid  of  four 
bishops  in  the  opposition  ;  but  when  it  came  to 
the  crisis,  they  all  deserted  him,  and  the  Arch- 
bishop stood  alone  to  brave  the  storm.  He  did 
not  shrink  from  it  ;  firmly  and  undauntedly  he 
stood  the  conflict  with  the  Popish  party,  who  felt 
that  they  had  the  support  of  the  King  ;  yet,  not- 
withstanding, such  was  the  strength  of  his  influ- 
ence, that  an  act  of  Parliament  followed,  mitigat- 
ing the  rigor  of  the  articles.  It  may  be  well  to 
mention  what  this  mitigation  was,  as  the  articles 
themselves  remained  the  same.  No  man  was  to 
be  put  on  trial  for  any  offence  against  either  of 
the  articles,  but  upon  the  oath  of  twelve  men  ; 
the  presentment  should  be  made  within  one  year 
after  the  offence  committed  ;  no  person  should 
be  arrested  for  any  such  offence  before  he  should 
be  indicted  ;  and,  lastly,  any  accusation  for  speak- 
ing or  reading  in  opposition  to  the  articles  should 
be  preferred  within  forty  days  of  the  alleged  de- 
linquency. It  will  easily  be  understood,  that  per- 
secution lost  some  of  its  power  by  the  necessary 
delay. 

A  new  accusation  was  soon  brought  against  the 
Archbishop  by  Sir  John  Gostwick,  a  Catholic. 
He  complained,  that  Cranmer  had  spoken  hereti- 


132  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

cally  on  the  sacrament.  It  so  happened  that  he 
was  a  stranger,  and  had  never  heard  a  sermon 
from  the  Archbishop.  If  the  King  had  had  any 
desire  to  convict  him,  this  would  not  have  weighed 
against  the  accuser  ;  but  Cranmer  still  stood  high 
in  his  favor,  and  his  indignation  knew  no  bounds. 

"  Tell  that  varlet  Gostwick,"  said  he,  "  that 
he  has  played  a  villanous  part,  to  abuse,  in  open 
Parliament,  the  Primate  of  the  realm.  If  he 
does  not  immediately  ask  pardon  of  my  Lord  of 
Canterbury,  I  will  make  him  the  poorest  Gost- 
wick that  ever  bore  the  name.  What  !  does  he 
pretend,  that  he,  being  in  Bedfordshire,  could 
hear  my  Lord  of  Canterbury  preaching  in  Kent  ? " 

Gostwick  went  with  great  haste  to  the  Arch- 
bishop at  Lambeth,  and  implored  his  pardon  for 
so  easily  taking  up  with  idle  reports  and  express- 
ed his  apprehension  that  the  King  meant  to  make 
an  example  of  him. 

"  I  forgive  you  freely,"  said  the  Archbishop, 
u  your  offence  towards  myself,  and  will  intercede 
with  the  King  for  a  full  pardon.  But  let  me  beg 
you  to  take  up  no  more  reports  lightly.  Slander 
is  as  foul  an  offence  towards  the  poorest  man  of 
the  realm,  as  to  the  Primate." 

The  Archbishop  was  faithful  to  his  promise, 
and  interceded  for  Gostwick.  It  was  some  time 
before  Henry  was  appeased.  "  What  would  they 
do  with  you,  if  I  were  gone  ?"   said   he  ;   "  the 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  133 

bloodhounds  are  licking  their  teeth  on  the  scent. 
Your  seal,  my  Lord,  shall  henceforth  be  three 
pelicans,  instead  of  three  cranes  ;  for  in  truth  you 
must  be  ready  as  the  pelican  is  to  shed  your 
blood,  if  you  stand  thus  firmly  to  your  tackling  in 
defence  of  your  religion.  When  I  am  gone,  they 
are  likely  to  have  a  taste  of  your  blood."  From 
this  time,  the  arms  of  Cranmer  were  three  peli- 
cans. 

An  English  litany  was  about  this  time  intro- 
duced. The  invocation  to  the  Virgin  Mary  was 
still  preserved,  the  intercession  of  saints  and  an- 
gels implored,  and  a  petition  added  for  deliver- 
ance from  the  "  Pope  of  Rome  and  his  detestable 
enormities."  No  one  doubted  but  the  Primate 
was  principally  engaged  in  the  work.  Devotional 
exercises  were  added,  compiled  from  Scripture, 
generally.  This  was  an  important  advantage, 
but  still  the  progress  of  reform  was  slow.  Henry 
had  imbibed  but  little  of  the  true  spirit  of  religion. 
On  either  side  he  considered  it  an  engine  of 
power,  and  determined  to  use  it  for  his  own  su- 
premacy. At  the  same  time  his  opinions  were 
continually  fluctuating  on  what  was  considered 
essential  at  the  time  ;  the  only  doctrine  which  he 
uniformly  preserved  was,  the  real  presence,  or 
the  doctrine  of  transubstantiation. 

It  might  be  truly  said,  that,  except  the  Primate, 
there  was  not  a  man  calculated  to  lead  the  Refor- 
mation.    At  the  time  of  Anne   Boleyn's  death, 


134  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Latimer,  whom  we  have  before  mentioned,  Bishop 
of  Worcester,  a  man  who  possessed  every  Chris- 
tian virtue,  Shaxton,  Bishop  of  Salsbury,  and 
Barlow,  Bishop  of  St.  David's,  were  all  favorable 
to  the  Reformation. 

Latimer  had  the  innocence  of  the  dove,  but 
none  of  the  wily  wisdom  of  the  serpent.  He 
had  little  knowledge  of  human  nature  in  any  sense. 
What  people  told  him  of  their  own  characters 
he  believed,  because  he  considered  truth  as  too 
important  for  any  individual  to  depart  from.  This 
rendered  him  an  easy  mark  for  imposition  with 
the  bad,  and  an  object  of  love  and  veneration  for 
the  good,  but  wholly  incapable  of  comprehending 
the  crooked  paths  of  duplicity. 

Bishop  Shaxton,  though  well  meaning,  was 
suspicious  and  unamiable  in  his  temper,  his  coun- 
tenance stern,  and  his  manner  unbending.  Those 
who  went  to  ask  counsel,  often  felt  an  invincible 
repugnance  at  receiving  it,  from  the  mode  in 
which  it  was  given.  Instead  of  making  converts 
to  his  opinions,  he  much  oftener  repulsed  his 
hearers. 

Bishop  Barlow  was  a  man  of  excellent  sense 
and  learning,  perfectly  natural  in  his  manner,  and 
admirable  at  a  joke.  The  great  essential  of  char- 
acter he  was  deficient  in, — judgment.  His  ob- 
servations wTere  often  ill-timed,  and  his  levity  of- 
fensive. Cranmer  feared  to  communicate  to  him 
many  important  plans;  "for  though,"  he  said, 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  135 

"  they  are  highly  important  for  the  diffusion  of 
truth,  you,  brother  Barlow,  in  half  an  hour,  will 
make  the  world  believe  they  are  a  jest." 

Such  were  the  men,  at  the  time  of  Anne's 
death,  to  whom  alone  the  Primate  could  look  for 
assistance.  He  stood  in  the  most  conspicuous 
place  in  the  realm,  surrounded  by  enemies.  Nor 
was  this  all.  Even  those  who  had  gone  along 
with  him  in  the  doctrine  of  reform  were  continu- 
ally weakening  their  cause  by  new  tenets  and  di- 
versity of  opinion  ;  every  one  had  his  own  creed. 
Some  only  wished  to  renounce  the  ceremonies  of 
the  Catholic  Church  and  preserve  its  doctrines  ; 
others,  to  preserve  the  ceremonies  and  reject  the 
doctrines. 

Amidst  the  confusion  which  must  ever  arise 
from  a  revolution  of  any  kind,  the  Archbishop  re- 
mained calm  and  determined.  He  redressed 
abuses  as  far  as  he  had  influence  in  other  courts 
as  well  as  his  own,  gave  up  many  of  his  fees,  and 
obliged  his  officers  to  retrench  theirs,  abolished 
the  excessive  number  of  holydays,  and  actually 
sat  down  to  a  hot  supper  on  the  eve  of  Saint 
Thomas  of  Canterbury. 

So  far  from  being  surprised  that  reform  made 
not  more  rapid  strides  under  these  circumstances, 
we  may  wonder  that  it  did  not  stand  still.  For 
its  progress  seemed  to  rest  wholly  on  the 
strength  of  one  man. 


136  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 


CHAPTER    X. 

It  does  not  appear  that  the  enemies  of  Cran- 
mer  were  disheartened  by  the  failure  of  the  last 
plot.  A  complaint  was  laid  before  the  King  by- 
certain  members  of  his  Council,  "that  the  Arch- 
bishop and  his  learned  men  had  so  infected  the 
whole  realm  with  their  unsavoury  doctrine,  that 
three  parts  out  of  four  in  the  land  were  abomina- 
ble heretics. 

It  was  well  known  how  tenacious  Henry  was 
of  being  considered  favorable  to  the  religion  of 
his  forefathers,  and  how  earnestly  he  professed 
that  he  was  no  friend  to  the  new  opinions.  Yet 
he  granted  advantages  to  the  Protestants  when  his 
pride  or  interest  was  concerned. 

The  suit  of  the  petitioners  took  hold  of  these 
prevailing  traits  of  his  character.  They  first  insin- 
uated that  the  Primate  had  inculcated  the  idea  that 
the  King  was  in  his  heart  a  heretic.  Out  of  pure 
regard  to  the  safety  of  his  Majesty,  and  the  peace 
of  the  realm,  they  petitioned  that  the  Primate 
might  be  committed  to  the  Tower.  "  This  pre- 
liminary measure  is  absolutely  necessary,"  said 
they,  "for,  as  long  as  he  is  left  at  liberty, no  mortal 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  137 

will  dare  to  utter  a  syllable  against  him.  Let  him 
once  be  in  confinement,  and  men  will  dare  to 
come  forward,  his  secret  machinations  will  be  re- 
vealed, and  his  Majesty's  counsellors  enabled  to 
search  out  the  truth." 

In  reply  to  this  statement  his  Majesty  said  ; 
"lam  favored  in  having  such  trusty  advisers  to 
watch  over  the  peace  of  the  realm.  I  commis- 
sion you  to  summon  the  Archbishop  to-morrow, 
and  then,  if  we  see  fit,  we  will  order  him  into 
custody." 

It  was  eleven  at  night  before  the  King  deter- 
mined in  what  manner  to  act.  He  then  de- 
spatched Sir  Anthony  Denny  to  Lambeth  with  an 
order  that  Cranmer  should  instantly  attend  him  at 
Westminster. 

He  arrived  late  at  night  at  Lambeth,  and  found 
the  inhabitants  of  the  palace  buried  in  sleep. 
The  habits  of  the  Archbishop  were  uniform,  and 
the  hour  of  retirement  early,  both  for  himself  and 
his  household.  Such  an  unusual  summons  must 
have  filled  him  with  surprise.  He  arose  from  his 
bed  and  repaired  to  the  King,  whom  he  found 
traversing  the  gallery  in  great  apparent  agitation. 

"  You  have  come,"  said  his  Majesty,  "to  hear 
serious  charges  against  yourself,  alleged  by  the 
Council.  They  demand  that  you  shall  be  com- 
mitted to  the  Tower,  and  I  have  acceded  to  their 
request." 


138  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

u  As  it  pleaseth  your  Majesty,"  said  Cranmer  ; 
11  I  am  in  all  respects  willing  to  be  committed  to 
the  Tower,  only  humbly  intreating  that  I  may  be 
permitted  to  face  my  accusers,  and  defend  myself 
against  them." 

"  O  Lord  God  !  "  said  Henry,  bursting  forth 
with  an  impetuosity  he  was  unable  to  restrain, 
"  what  simplicity  is  yours,  to  submit  to  an  im- 
prisonment that  must  end  in  your  ruin  !  Do  you 
not  know,  that,  no  sooner  than  you  shall  be  in  the 
Tower,  false  knaves  will  instantly  come  forward  to 
arraign  you,  who,  if  you  were  at  liberty,  would 
not  dare  to  show  their  faces  ?  No,  no  ;  not  so, 
my  Lord  of  Canterbury.  Go  you  to  the  Coun- 
cil to-morrow,  and,  when  you  appear  before  them, 
demand  to  be  confronted  with  your  accusers. 
Should  there  be  a  moment's  hesitation,  produce 
this  ring  ;  the  sight  of  it  will  instantly  bring  the 
matter  before  me." 

With  a  mind  harassed  by  anxiety,  and  the 
consciousness  of  enemies  ready  to  spring  upon 
him,  the  Archbishop,  after  a  sleepless  night,  at 
eight  o'clock  was  in  attendance  upon  the  Council. 

The  men  who  had  solicited  his  imprisonment, 
were  sitting  in  divan  discussing  the  articles  of  his 
impeachment.  When  told  he  was  in  waiting, 
there  was  a  luxury  in  humiliating  the  Primate  that 
added  to  the  expected  triumph.  "  Let  him  wait 
our  leisure,"  was  the  universal  sentiment. 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  139 

The  Archbishop  found  himself  in  the  ante- 
room, surrounded  by  lackeys  and  serving-men, 
waiting  the  orders  of  their  masters.  It  was  a 
spectacle  worth  looking  at  for  its  novelty,  and 
many  a  one  stopped  to  gaze  upon  the  Primate  as 
he  passed.  There  was  one,  however,  that  did 
not  look  upon  him  with  sentiments  of  triumph  or 
of  pity,  but  with  indignation.  This  was  Doctor 
Butts,  the  King's  physician,  who  was  on  his 
morning  errand  to  his  Majesty.  When  he  en- 
tered the  royal  apartment  he  said,  a  I  have  seen 
so  strange  a  sight  this  morning,  that  I  think  it 
worth  mentioning  to  your  Majesty." 

"  What  is  it  ?  "  inquired  the  King. 

"  The  first  man  in  England  is  become  a  serving- 
man,  and  has  been  standing  for  an  hour  among 
his  fellow-lackeys  at  the  door  of  the  Council- 
chamber." 

"  Ha  !  is  it  so  ?  "  exclaimed  Henry  ;  "  the  var- 
lets  !  they  shall  hear  of  it  before  long. " 

Still,  however,  Henry  remained  quiet,  to  the 
surprise  of  Dr.  Butts. 

In  the  mean  time,  Cranmer  waited  till  he  was 
summoned  to  the  Council-chamber.  The  com- 
plaint was  made  in  rude  terms.  He  listened  with 
meekness,  and  required  that  his  accusers  might  be 
called  into  his  presence  and  confronted  with  him. 
The  just  request  was  made  in  vain.  "  No,  my 
Lord,"  was  the  reply  ;  "  we  have  liberty  to  com- 


140  CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

mit  you  immediately  to  the  Tower  ;  then,  justify 
yourself  if  you  can." 

Cranmer,  finding  his  request  unheeded,  drew 
from  his  bosom  a  ring  and  handed  it  to  them. 

It  was  the  King's  !  The  august  assembly  were 
thrown  into  the  greatest  agitation,  while  Lord 
Russell  exclaimed  ;  "  Said  I  not  true,  my  Lords, 
that  the  King  would  never  endure  that  my  Lord 
of  Canterbury  should  be  impeached  and  disgraced 
for  less  than  high  treason  ?  " 

The  matter  was  now  immediately  before  the 
King.  "  I  thought,"  said  Henry,  "  that  I  had  a 
discreet  Council.  But  what  am  I  to  say  now  ? 
Is  my  Lord  of  Canterbury  a  slave,  that  you 
should  keep  him  at  the  door  of  your  chamber 
like  a  serving-man  ?  What  would  you  say,  if  an 
indignity  like  this  were  offered  to  any  of  you  ? 
I  fully  believe  that  the  realm  of  England  contains 
not  a  more  faithful  subject  than  I  have  ever  found 
in  my  Lord  of  Canterbury,  and  he  that  pretends 
attachment  to  me,  must  show  respect  and  honor 
to  him." 

It  was  in  vain  they  apologized  and  explained. 
The  wrath  of  Henry  was  not  easily  appeased. 
They  assured  the  King,  that  they  only  wished  the 
Archbishop  committed  to  the  Tower  that  he 
might  come  forth  from  his  confinement  with  aug- 
mented reputation  and  glory. 

"  Is  it  even  so?"  said  Henry  sarcastically. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  141 

"  Think  ye  that  I  do  not  see  the  malice  of  your 
motives,  that  which  sets  you  one  against  another  ? 
that  I  do  not  discern  how  the  world  goeth  among 
ye  ?  I  counsel  you,  let  this  be  avoided  out  of 
hand,  and  never  again  let  my  friends  receive  such 
usage  as  this  at  your  hands." 

With  these  words  he  left  them.  The  scene 
that  followed  was  too  disgusting  to  describe,  — 
an  exhibition  of  the  low  propensities  of  human 
nature.  The  men  who  had  hoped  to  bring  Cran- 
mer  to  the  scaffold,  now  crowded  round  him, 
congratulated  him  "  on  having  such  convincing 
testimonies  of  his  innocence,  and  besought  him 
to  harbour  no  enmity  towards  them."  The  placa- 
ble Archbishop  accepted  their  apologies,  and  the 
King,  who  was  well  satisfied  with  his  own  exhi- 
bition of  power,  and  the  success  of  the  little 
farce  he  had  planned,  desired  the  Primate  to  in- 
vite them  to  dine  at  Lambeth  palace. 

Thus  ended  a  deep-laid  plot,  of  which  we  have 
only  given  the  results,  but  which  may  be  studied 
out  in  historical  works. 

A  new  cause  of  complaint  against  Cranmer 
was  now  brought  before  the  King.  He  was  con- 
tinually accused  of  being  mean  and  avaricious. 
Sir  John  Seymour  represented  the  arrangement 
of  the  Archbishop's  household,  as  wholly  incon- 
sistent with  his  high  station.  "  The  revenues  of 
the  Primacy,"  said  he,  "  are  no  longer  devoted 


142  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

to  purposes  of  benevolence  or  hospitality.  The 
love  of  money  has  become  the  ruling  passion  of 
the  prelate.  To  hoard  is  his  great  work,  and  his 
table  is  unworthily  furnished  for  the  first  man  in 
the  realm." 

Soon  after,  the  King  despatched  Seymour 
with  a  message  to  the  Archbishop  about  the  hour 
of  dinner.  As  soon  as  he  entered,  Cranmer 
arose,  and,  in  a  courteous  manner,  requested  him 
to  take  a  seat  at  the  table.  Even  Sir  John  was 
obliged  to  acknowledge,  on  his  return  to  the  mon- 
arch, that  he  believed  the  slander  was  wholly 
without  foundation.  That  a  noble  provision  was 
every  day  made  for  accidental  guests,  and  for  the 
poor  dependents  of  the  church. 

It  may  not  be  amiss  here,  to  mention  the  habits 
and  arrangements  of  the  Archbishop.  Every 
day  three  tables  were  spread  in  the  dining  hall. 
First,  the  Archbishop's  table.  At  this  were  seat- 
ed all  the  distinguished  guests,  not  only  people  of 
wealth,  and  high  rank,  but  men  eminent  for  their 
virtue  and  learning,  whom  Cranmer  believed  to 
be  the  true  nobility  of  England.  Then  came  the 
almoner's  table.  This  was  furnished  in  a  style 
little  inferior  to  the  first.  At  this,  sat  the  chap- 
lains, and  those  of  his  household  who  ranked  be- 
low Bishops  and  Abbots.  After  these  came  the 
steward's  table,  at  which  sat  promiscuous  guests 
and  dependents. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  143 

That  this  style  was  truly  irksome  to  Cranmer, 
there  is  no  doubt  ;  but  hospitality  he  considered 
a  duty,  and  a  noble  and  expensively  furnished 
table  was  one  of  the  virtues  of  the  day. 

For  his  own  habits,  there  is  the  best  authority. 
His  first  principle  was,  economy  of  time  ;  nor 
could  he  have  accomplished  all  he  did,  without  it. 
He  rose  at  five  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
went  immediately  to  his  study.  This,  till  nine, 
he  considered  as  exclusively  his  own  time,  and 
would  not  suffer  himself  to  be  interrupted  unless 
for  unavoidable  claims.  At  nine,  he  breakfasted 
sparingly,  and  then  admitted  those  who  wished  to 
see  him  on  private  or  public  business.  Eleven 
was  the  chapel  hour  of  prayers,  and  his  dinner 
hour  twelve.  After  dinner  he  spent  an  hour  in 
recreation  ;  conversation  and  chess  were  his  usual 
modes  of  passing  this  time.  He  then  retired 
again  to  his  study  till  the  chapel  bell  rang,  which 
was  punctually  at  five.  After  evening  prayers 
was  his  time  for  exercise  ;  he  then  walked  till  six, 
the  hour  of  supper.  When  he  came  to  the  table 
from  his  walk,  he  often  did  not  pull  off  his  gloves, 
but  took  some  slight  refreshment  and  again  re- 
sumed his  exercise  of  walking.  At  eight,  he  re- 
tired to  his  study,  and  at  nine  went  to  bed.  As 
he  wrote  a  great  deal,  he  accustomed  himself  to 
write  standing,  and  often  read  in  this  posture. 
This    he    considered    particularly    conducive    to 


144  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

health,  and  sitting  peculiarly  injurious.  His 
library  was  rilled  with  a  choice  collection  of 
books,  and  was  open  to  all  men  of  letters.  In 
this  respect  he  showed  the  utmost  liberality. 

When  we  contrast  Cranmer's  mode  of  life 
with  Wolsey's,  we  have  an  illustration  of  the 
character  of  the  two  men,  that  is  important.  It 
may  be  conjectured  that  Wolsey's  habits  of  ex- 
pense and  dissipation  were  often  recurred  to  by 
the  King,  and  called  forth  his  honorable  testimo- 
ny for  Cranmer.  When  Cranmer  proposed  reg- 
ulating the  tables  of  the  clergy,  the  King  at  once 
assented.  The  regulations  published  on  the  oc- 
casion ordered,  that  an  Archbishop's  table  should 
not  exceed  six  divers  kinds  of  flesh,  or  as  many 
of  fish  on  fish  days.  A  Bishop's  should  not  ex- 
ceed five  ;  a  Dean's  four  ;  and  none  under  that 
degree  should  exceed  three.  For  a  second 
course  an  Archbishop  was  allowed  four  dishes,  a 
bishop  three,  and  all  others  two.  The  second 
course  usually  consisted  of  custards,  tarts,  fritters, 
cheese,  and  fruit.  If  any  inferior  entertained  a 
superior,  he  might  enlarge  his  entertainment  ac- 
cording to  his  discretion.  If  an  Archbishop  or 
ecclesiastic  entertained  an  ambassador,  the  diet 
need  not  be  limited.  It  was,  however,  under- 
stood, that  there  should  not  be  more  than  one,  of 
any  large  fowl,  such  as  cranes,  turkeys,  and  swans, 
in  a  dish  ;  but  of  woodcocks,  pheasants,  or  small- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  145 

er  birds,  there  might  be  two  or  three.  The  same 
regulations  extended  to  fish ;  of  haddock,  pike,  or 
tench,  only  one  in  a  dish  ;  but  of  the  very  small 
ones,  the  number  might  be  increased. 

About  this  time  he  instituted  a  hospital  at  his 
manor-house  of  Beckesburn  in  Kent.  This  was 
one  of  the  most  noble  charities  of  the  period, 
and  proves  that  the  Archbishop  was  greatly  in 
advance  of  the  times.  He  had  vainly  urged,  that 
some  of  the  monasteries  should  be  turned  into 
hospitals  for  wounded  and  disbanded  soldiers,  who 
often  had  no  asylum.  But,  when  he  found  he 
could  effect  nothing  by  representations,  he  not 
only  gave  up  the  manor-house,  but  appointed  a 
physician,  a  surgeon,  nurses,  and  every  thing 
proper,  as  well  for  food  as  for  medicine.  There, 
the  soldier  who  had  fought  the  hard  battles  of  his 
country,  and  who  often  returned  wanting  a  leg  or 
an  arm,  and  sick  and  desolate,  was  carefully  at- 
tended, and,  on  his  recovery,  was  furnished  with 
money  to  carry  him  home,  in  proportion  to  the 
distance. 

It  would  hardly  be  justice  to  the  spirit  of  the 
times  to  pass  over  the  history  of  Anne  Askew, 
the  daughter  of  Sir  William  Askew,  of  Kelsay, 
in  Lincolnshire.  This  young  lady  early  discov- 
ered a  taste  for  books,  and  acquired  the  habit  of 
thinking  and  investigating  for  herself.  In  the 
beautiful  secluded   spot  of  her  native  place   she 

10 


146  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

passed  the  early  years  of  her  life,  and  drank  phi- 
losophy at  those  fountains  which  refresh  and  in- 
invigorate  the  mind.  A  Bible  accidentally  fell 
into  her  hands,  which  she  carefully  concealed. 
It  was  her  greatest  treasure.  Some  of  Luther's 
works  had  found  their  way  to  her  curious  and  in- 
quiring mind,  and  she  embraced  with  ardor  the 
doctrine  of  reform. 

Such  a  woman  was  indeed  rare  in  those  days, 
and,  had  it  not  been  for  her  uncommon  beauty, 
she  would  probably  have  been  allowed  the  quiet 
possession  of  her  pursuits  and  opinions.  But 
Mr.  Kyne,  a  visiter  to  her  father,  was  captivated 
by  her  charms,  and  contrived  to  make  warm 
friends  of  her  parents. 

Almost  by  compulsion  she  consented  to  marry 
him.  Her  reward  was  tyranny  and  oppression. 
He  was  a  bigoted  Catholic,  and  repeatedly  drove 
her  from  his  house  ;  and,  not  understanding  the 
elevation  of  her  character,  persecuted  her  with 
petty  cruelties,  till,  unable  any  longer  to  endure 
them,  she  fled  to  the  Court  of  Henry  the  Eighth, 
told  the  story  of  her  wrongs,  and  solicited  a  di- 
vorce. Many  of  the  ladies  of  the  Court  were 
deeply  interested  for  her,  Queen  Catharine  (Parr) 
among  the  rest.  The  similarity  of  their  opinions 
produced  an  intimate  intercourse.  This  excited 
a  degree  of  envy.  Anne  wras  little  acquainted 
with  the  intrigues  of  a  court,  and  easily  induced 
by  artful   people   to   relate   observations  of  the 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  ]  47 

Queen's  favoring  the  Reformation.  She  was  im- 
mediately arrested  and  conveyed  to  the  Tower, 
and  at  the  same  time  Shaxton,  who  had  been 
Bishop  of  Salisbury,  with  whom  she  was  much 
acquainted.  When  questioned  as  to  her  faith, 
she  boldly  declared  it,  and  that  she  renounced  the 
old  sacramental  doctrine. 

In  the  mean  time,  Shaxton,  unable  to  withstand 
the  prospect  of  being  burned,  recanted  his  hereti- 
cal opinions.  He  was  then  admitted  to  an  inter- 
view with  Anne,  for  the  purpose  of  persuading 
her  to  do  as  he  had  done.  She  calmly  replied  ; 
"  Death  can  come  but  once,  and,  when  the  breath 
ceases,  it  is  over  ;  but  he,  who  lives  in  infamy, 
dies  a  slow  death,  before  the  fire  of  his  own  con- 
science !  O  my  Lord,  it  were  good  for  you,  if 
you  had  never  been  born  !  " 

When  questioned  with  regard  to  the  Queen, 
her  fidelity  was  not  to  be  tempted.  She  resolute- 
ly refused  to  acknowledge  any  word  that  could 
cast  a  shadow  of  reproach  upon  her,  and  probably 
it  saved  the  life  of  Catharine,  as  the  slightest  de- 
viation from  Henry's  opinions  would  have  been 
fatal  to  her. 

How  shall  we  go  on  with  the  mournful  story. 
She  was  hunted  like  a  wild  beast,  and  her  deli- 
cate and  beautifully  proportioned  form  stretched 
on  the  rack  while  she  was  yet  in  prison,  the  Lord 
High-Chancellor  of  England  not  only  witnessing 


148  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  deed,  but  even  assisting  with  his  own  hand  in 
stretching  the  engine  ! 

No  severities,  no  torments  changed  her  lofty 
and  high-toned  character.  When  carried  to  the 
stake,  she  was  unable  to  stand,  from  the  disloca- 
tion of  her  limbs.  As  a  refinement  of  cruelty, 
Shaxton  was  placed  in  a  pulpit  to  address  her. 
She  met  the  flames  which  curled  round  her  with- 
out a  shriek  or  a  groan,  at  the  age  of  twenty-six  ! 

We  can  with  difficulty  give  credence  to  this 
history.  It  seems  to  be  cruelty  without  an  ade- 
quate motive.  We  must  endeavour  to  place  our- 
selves in  that  barbarous  period,  when  human  life 
seemed  to  be  considered  of  little  importance, 
when  the  stake  and  the  scaffold  were  spectacles 
familiar  to  the  eye.  Yet  even  then  we  must  turn 
with  horror  from  men  who  could  execute  such  a 
deed,  and  search  for  a  motive  powerful  enough  to 
make  it  credible. 

During  former  cruelties  of  Henry's  reign,  many 
were  condemned  to  the  stake  for  heresy,  but  none 
without  more  plausible  motives  than  those  alleged 
against  Anne  Askew.  We  are  tempted  to  be- 
lieve there  must  have  been  some  underplot,  some 
secret  revenge  connected  with  her  early  marriage, 
which  sealed  her  doom. 

From  the  time  of  her  arrest  to  that  of  her  ex- 
ecution she  was  urged  to  make  a  recantation  of 
her   opinions  ;    but    she    listened   with  a  serious 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  149 

smile  to  such  proposals,  and,  while  long  homilies 
were  read  to  her,  composed  prayers  and  hymns 
which  she  afterwards  wrote  down. 

It  was  a  great  source  of  grief  to  Cranmer,  that 
the  Bible  was  laid  under  such  restrictions  that 
they  almost  annihilated  the  use  of  it.  Both  Tyn- 
dal's  and  Coverdale's  new  translations  of  the  Tes- 
tament were  prohibited,  and  the  English  books  of 
Wiclif  and  Frith,  the  earliest  reformers,  sup- 
pressed. Still,  however,  the  Archbishop  con- 
tinued to  effect  all  in  his  power,  and  his  patience 
and  perseverance  were  truly  remarkable. 

But  the  close  of  Henry's  life  was  evidently 
drawing  near.  He  had  grown  so  large  and  un- 
wieldy, that  he  could  no  longer  go  up  or  down 
stairs,  but  was  let  down  and  drawn  up  by  an  en- 
gine. Bodily  disease  made  him  intolerable  in  his 
temper,  so  that  every  one  who  approached  him 
did  it  with  fear.  More  than  once  Cranmer  inter- 
fered to  shield  Mary  from  her  father's  anger. 
Henry  seems  to  have  very  well  understood  her 
disposition,  and  feared  she  might  cause  trouble  to 
his  successor,  the  young  Edward. 

At  length  his  suspicions  found  a  point  on 
which  to  rest.  The  Earl  of  Surrey,  son  to  the 
Duke  of  Norfolk,  Lord  Treasurer  of  England, 
was  a  young  man  of  great  wit  and  learning  ;  his 
manners  were  refined  and  graceful,  his  deport- 
ment noble    and  commanding.     He   had  passed 


150  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

much  of  his  time  on  the  continent,  and  acquired 
a  degree  of  gallantry  in  his  deportment  towards 
women,  that  was  scarcely  understood  in  England. 
A  lover  of  the  fine  arts,  accomplished  in  the  lit- 
erature of  the  day,  an  adept  in  music,  and  per- 
forming himself  with  the  grace  of  an  amateur  and 
the  precision  of  an  artist,  he  became  the  "glass 
of  fashion "  to  the  young.  At  every  masque 
and  tournament  he  was  the  hero.  His  lance  and 
his  pen  were  equally  successful.  His  romantic 
gallantry  flowed  in  madrigals  and  sonnets,  and  he 
stood  forth  one  of  the  troubadours  of  the  earlier 
ages.  When  Boulogne  was  taken  by  Henry,  the 
young  Earl,  then  scarcely  at  the  age  of  manhood, 
was  left  governor  of  the  place.  Led  away  by  the 
impetuosity  and  bravery  of  his  natural  tempera- 
ment, he  ventured  upon  some  rencounters  with 
the  French,  which  proved  unsuccessful,  and  the 
King  sent  over  Hertford  to  command  in  his  place, 
ordering  Surrey  to  resign. 

The  young  man  did  not  take  this  affront  meek- 
ly, and,  when  Hertford  offered  him  his  daughter 
in  marriage,  he  waved  the  proposal.  He  had  al- 
ready selected  the  lady  of  his  love,  and  this  man- 
ner of  negotiating  an  alliance,  even  if  his  heart 
had  been  disengaged,  w7as  wholly  opposed  to  his 
chivalrous  feelings.  He  returned  to  the  English 
Court,  and  was  even  so  imprudent  as  to  utter  his 
indignation  aloud  at  what  he  conceived  to  be  un- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  151 

just  treatment.  When  there,  he  laid  aside  the 
pomp  of  arms,  and  threw  open  his  house  to  peo- 
ple of  rank  and  distinguished  foreigners.  Among 
these  were  Italians,  a  nation  hateful  to  the  King, 
and  constantly  the  ohject  of  his  suspicions.  He 
always  believed  them  to  be  in  concert  with  his 
ancient  enemy,  Cardinal  Pole,  and  employed  as 
spies.  Another  evil  under  which  Surrey  labored, 
arose  from  his  relationship  to  Catharine  Howard, 
which  operated  as  a  secret  cause  of  disgust  to  the 
King. 

The  Earl  was  wholly  unapprized  of  these  ex- 
isting prejudices  against  him,  and  bore  himself 
with  a  nobility  of  demeanor  that  was  reported  to 
the  King  by  his  enemies.  Henry  was  now  con- 
fined to  his  room,  irascible  and  overbearing  ;  all 
the  evil  passions  of  'his  nature  forming  his  torment 
and  punishment.  The  echoes,  which  occasionally 
met  his  ear,  of  the  elegance,  accomplishments, 
and  deportment  of  Surrey,  were  operating  like 
poison  upon  his  mind,  and  he  conceived,  or  pre- 
tended to  entertain,  the  absurd  suspicion  that  the 
Earl  aspired  to  the  hand  of  the  Princess  Mary, 
and  meant  to  dispute  the  succession  of  Edward 
to  the  crown,  and  secure  it  to  himself. 

While  these  things  were  brewing  in  the  King's 
mind,  and  adding  to  the  torture  of  severe  bodily 
disease,  the  unconscious  Surrey  was  preparing  a 
splendid   entertainment  in  honor  of  the   princess 


152  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Mary.  A.11  the  decorations  of  taste  and  art  were 
collected,  and  it  was  more  than  suspected,  that  the 
professed  object  of  the  fete  had  signified  her  wil- 
lingness that  it  should  be  given.  Never  had  the 
rigid  muscles  of  Mary's  face  more  benignantly 
relaxed  than  on  this  occasion.  Surrey  was  not 
wanting  in  any  of  the  attentions  of  a  preux  che- 
valier; he  danced,  he  sang,  and  knelt  to  the  Prin- 
cess, but  his  eye  perpetually  wandered  to  one 
light  and  graceful  form  in  the  distant  group. 
When  their  eyes  met,  it  was  observed  by  Pas- 
quil,  his  Italian  jester,  that  "his  hand  moved  to 
his  heart."  This  was  the  true  object  of  his  affec- 
tion ;  and  well  she  deserved  it.  With  a  natural 
love  for  all  that  was  beautiful  and  cultivated,  she 
had  singled  out  Surrey  from  her  troop  of  ad- 
mirers, and  caught  the  inspiration  of  his  genius. 
Never  were  two  hearts  more  in  unison,  and  a  long 
life  of  similar  pursuits,  of  elegant  literature,  and  of 
domestic  and  conjugal  faith,  rose  in  perspective. 

The  next  morning,  by  order  of  the  King,  the 
Earl  was  arraigned  for  high  treason.  His  trial 
took  place  in  Guild-hall,  in  London,  before  the 
Lord  Chancellor,  the  Lord  Mayor,  and  other 
commissioners.  The  chief  accusation  against 
him  was  assuming  the  arms  of  Edward  the  Con- 
fessor. He  fully  proved  that  these  were  justified 
by  the  sanction  of  the  King's  heralds. 

Sir  Richard    Southwell   was    confronted    with 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  153 

him,  and  charged  him  with  having  uttered  disloyal 
words.  Surrey  denied  them,  and  desired  to  be 
admitted  to  fight  him,  according  to  martial  law\ 
This  was  not  permitted.  He  defended  himself 
with  a  keen  wit  and  undaunted  spirit,  often  con- 
founding his  adversaries.  At  length  a  witness 
was  brought  against  him,  who  deposed,  that,  in 
reply  to  an  observation  of  Surrey's,  he  had  said 
at  the  time,  "  My  Lord,  this  is  high  treason." 

The  Earl  folded  his  arms,  and  looking  at  him 
with  ineffable  contempt,  replied  ;  "  I  leave  it  to 
the  jury  to  decide,  whether  the  Earl  of  Surrey 
would  suffer  this  man  to  speak  such  words  to  him, 
without  felling  him  to  the  earth." 

He  uniformly  pleaded  not  guilty,  and  his  eye 
never  for  a  moment  lost  its  undaunted  courage. 
The  jury  (a  common  inquest,  not  of  the  peers) 
condemned  him,  judgment  of  death  was  given, 
and  he  was  conveyed  to  the  Tower.  When  he 
arrived  there,  he  found  that  his  father,  the  Duke 
of  Norfolk,  had  been  also  committed  on  the  charge 
of  high  treason. 

The  evening  preceding  the  execution  of  Sur- 
rey, a  young  page  was  admitted  to  his  cell  by  the 
keeper,  on  condition  that  the  interview  should  last 
but  fifteen  minutes,  and  himself  be  present.  It 
mattered  not  to  the  parties  who  was  there  ;  it  was 
one  long,  one  last  embrace.  The  same  spirit 
animated  both  ;  a  spirit  of  undying  constancy  and 


154  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

truth.  The  last  words  they  uttered  when  they 
parted  were,  "  For  a  moment  of  suffering  on 
earth,  an  eternity  of  happiness  in  heaven." 

The  next  day,  in  the  grey  twilight  of  the 
morning,  the  elegant,  the  accomplished,  the  en- 
vied Earl  of  Surrey,  was  beheaded  on  Tower- 
hill  ! 

His  father,  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  still  remained 
in  prison.  His  goods  and  lands  had  been  seized. 
He  possessed  not  the  undaunted  spirit  of  his  son, 
but  wrote  an  abject  letter  to  the  King,  and  made 
the  humblest  submissions.  How  would  the  in- 
dignant eye  of  Henry  Howard,  Earl  of  Surrey, 
have  flashed,  had  he  heard  his  father  accuse  him 
of  high  treason,  for  the  sake  of  purchasing  the 
worthless  remnant  of  his  own  days, — he,  who, 
in  the  pride  and  dignity  of  manhood,  with  all  the 
fair  promises  of  life  and  love  clustering  round 
him,  had  disdained  to  sue  for  clemency  to  the 
hard-hearted  tyrant. 

Cranmer,  though  no  friend  of  Norfolk,  —  for 
they  were  in  opposite  parties,  and  the  Primate 
considered  him  as  using  all  his  influence  against 
the  Reformation, — seems  to  have  been  filled 
with  just  indignation  at  these  proceedings,  and 
boldly  said  he  would  have  no  hand  in  such  a  pro- 
secution. Without  consulting  any  one,  he  retired 
to  his  seat  at  Croyden. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  155 

The  King's  illness  rapidly  increased,  but  no 
sentiments  of  compassion  for  the  Duke  of  Nor- 
folk softened  his  heart.  He  sent  to  the  Parlia- 
ment to  hasten  their  work,  on  pretence  that  there 
must  be  a  new  Earl  Marshal,  to  install  his  son 
Prince  of  Wales.  The  obsequious  Parliament 
obeyed  his  directions,  and  sent  to  the  King,  for  his 
royal  assent,  the  bill  condemning  Norfolk.  With 
a  trembling  and  eager  hand,  the  King  affixed  his 
signature.  It  was  then  the  2Sth  of  the  month. 
A  short  time  after  this  exertion,  an  evident  change 
took  place.  Every  one  present  believed  him  to 
be  dying,  but  no  one  dared  to  give  him  any  inti- 
mation of  his  situation. 

At  length,  Sir  Anthony  Denny  arrived,  and 
plainly  told  him  that  his  end  was  drawing  near. 
Henry  received  the  intelligence  with  calmness  ; 
said  he  knew  he  had  been  a  great  sinner,  but 
trusted  in  the  mercies  of  Christ.  He  then  re- 
quested Cranmer  might  be  sent  for.  Before  the 
Archbishop  arrived,  the  King  was  speechless. 
Cranmer  requested  him  to  make  some  sign  that 
he  died  in  Christian  faith.  He  squeezed  his  hand 
and  expired,  on  the  2Sth  day  of  January,  the 
very  day  on  which  he  had  assented  to  Norfolk's 
death,  and  signed  the  instrument.  The  life  of 
the  Duke  was  thus  saved,  and  Henry  called  to 
render  his  last  account  for  the  deeds  he  had  done 
and  purposed. 


156  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

The  sun  arose  upon  his  lifeless  corpse,  the 
hand  was  still  and  motionless  that  had  signed  the 
death-warrant  of  Norfolk,  for  that  day  a  mightier 
had  signed  his  own  ! 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  157 


CHAPTER  XI. 

The  Archbishop  deeply  felt  the  death  of  the 
King.  To  him  alone  in  the  world,  Henry  seems 
to  have  shown  uniform  and  consistent  kindness. 
The  very  vices  of  his  character,  to  which  Cran- 
mer's  loyalty  could  not  wholly  blind  him,  made 
his  death  more  solemn  and  affecting.  In  Edward, 
he  beheld  not  only  the  successor  of  the  King, 
but  a  child  for  whom  he  had  watched  and  prayed. 
He  had  stood  sponsor  at  his  birth,  and  this,  to 
the  Archbishop,  was  no  idle  ceremony.  He  felt 
now  that  he  was  answerable  for  all  he  had  prom- 
ised, and  his  tenderness  towards  the  young  King 
was  expressed  in  the  very  tones  in  which  he 
spoke  of  him  or  to  him.  He  immediately  peti- 
tioned, "  that,  as  he  had  exercised  the  authority 
of  an  Archbishop  during  the  reign  of  the  former 
King,  so,  that  authority  ending  with  his  life,  it 
would  please  the  present  King  Edward  to  com- 
mit unto  him  that  power  again."  That  this  was 
done  to  afford  an  example  of  the  King's  ecclesi- 
astical jurisdiction  there  can  be  no  doubt,  as  he 
strongly  maintained  the  royal  supremacy  in  eccle- 
siastical as  well  as  secular  affairs. 


158  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TTMES. 

The  day  after  Henry's  death,  his  will  was 
read.  He  bequeathed  the  crown  to  Prince  Ed- 
ward and  his  issue  ;  but,  in  case  of  his  death  with- 
out any  issue,  to  Mary  and  Elizabeth,  and,  in  de- 
fault of  their  issue,  to  the  heirs  of  his  nieces, 
Frances  and  Eleanor,  daughters  of  his  sister 
Mary,  late  Queen  of  France.  His  own  daugh- 
ters were  to  forfeit  their  right  of  succession,  should 
they  marry  without  the  consent  of  the  privy 
council  ;  and  his  sister,  the  Scottish  Queen,  with 
her  issue  was  wholly  cut  off  from  the  succession. 

One  of  Cranmer's  first  exercises  of  episcopal 
power  was  the  coronation  of  the  young  King. 
Nine  years  before,  the  Archbishop  had  received 
him  in  his  arms,  a  new  born  babe.  He  had  much 
reason  then,  from  his  own  experience,  to  view 
him  as  born  into  a  world  of  trouble  and  sorrow. 
Now  he  was  about  to  place  upon  his  head  a  king- 
ly crown,  which  to  too  many  had  proved  a  crown 
of  thorns. 

The  ceremony  was  to  be  performed  in  West- 
minster Abbey,  where,  "First,  There  was  a 
goodly  stage  richly  hanged  round  with  cloth  of 
gold  and  cloth  of  arras.  Two  and  twenty  steps 
led  from  the  choire  ;  and  down  to  the  high  altar 
but  fifteen  steps,  goodly  carpetted,  where  the 
King's  Grace  should  tread  with  his  nobles. 

"  Secondly,  The  high  altar  was  richly  garnish- 
ed with  costly  jewels  and  ornaments  of  much  es- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  159 

timation  and  value.  And  also  the  tombs  on  either 
side  the  high  altar,  richly  hanged  with  fine  gold 
of  arras. 

"  Thirdly,  in  the  midst  of  the  stage  was  a 
goodly  thing  made  of  seven  steps  of  height  all 
around,  where  the  King's  Majesty's  chair  royal 
stood  ;  and  he  sat  therein  after  he  was  crowned, 
all  the  mass- while. 

"  Fourthly,  At  nine  of  the  clock  all  Westmin- 
ster choire  was  in  their  copes  and  three  goodly 
crosses  before  them  ;  and  after  them  other  three 
goodly  rich  crosses,  and  the  King's  chappel  with 
his  children,  following  all  in  scarlet,  with  surplices 
and  copes  on  their  backs.  And  after  them  ten 
bishops  in  scarlet,  with  their  rochets,  and  rich 
copes  on  their  backs,  and  their  mitres  on  their 
heads,  did  set  forth  at  the  west  door  of  Westmin- 
ster towards  the  King's  palace,  there  to  receive 
his  Grace  ;  and  my  Lord  of  Canterbury  with  his 
cross  before  him  alone,  and  his  mitre  on  his  head. 
And  so  past  forth  in  order,  as  before  is  said.  And 
within  a  certain  space  after  were  certain  blew 
cloths  laid  abroad  in  the  church  floor  against  the 
King's  coming,  and  so  all  the  palace,  even  to 
York  place." 

Then  is  described  the  "  setting  forward  from 
Westminster  church  to  his  coronation,  unction, 
and  confirmation." 

tc  After  all  the  Lords    in  order   had  kneeled 


160  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

down  and  kissed  his  Grace's  right  foot,  and  after 
held  their  hands  between  his  Grace's  hands,  and 
kissed  his  Grace's  left  cheek,  and  so  did  their 
homage  ;  then  began  a  mass  of  the  Holy  Ghost 
by  my  Lord  of  Canterbury,  with  good  singing  in 
the  choire,  and  organs  playing.  There  at  offer- 
ing-time his  grace  offered  to  the  altar  a  pound  of 
gold,  a  loaf  of  bread,  and  a  chalice  of  wine. 
Then,  after  the -levation  of  the  mass,  there  was 
read  by  my  Lord  Chancellor,  in  presence  of  all 
the  nobles,  a  general  pardon  granted  by  Henry 
the  Eighth,  father  to  our  liege  Lord  the  King, 
that  all  shall  be  pardoned  that  have  offended  be- 
fore the  28th  day  of  January  last  past. 

"  When  the  King's  Majesty,  with  his  nobles, 
came  to  the  place  of  coronation,  within  a  while 
after,  his  Grace  was  removed  into  a  chair  of  crim- 
son velvet,  and  borne  in  the  chair  between  two 
noblemen,  unto  the  north  side  of  the  stage  and 
shewed  to  the  people  ;  and  these  words  spoken  to 
the  people  by  my  Lord  of  Canterbury  ; 

"  '  Sirs  ;  here  I  present  unto  you  King  Ed- 
ward,- the  rightful  inheritor  to  the  crown  of  this 
realm.  Wherefore  all  ye,  that  be  come  this  day 
to  do  your  homage  service  and  bounden  duty,  be 
ye  willing  to  do  the  same  ?  ' 

"  To  the  which  all  the  people  cried  with  a  loud 
voice  and  said,  'Yea,  yea,  yea  ' ;  and  cried 'King 
Edward  !  '  and  prayed  '  God  save  King  Edward  ! ' 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  161 

And  so  to  the  south  side  in  like  manner,  and  to 
the  east  side  and  to  the  west  side. 

"  After  this,  his  Grace  was  again  borne  to  the 
high  altar  in  his  chair,  and  there  sat  bare-headed. 
And  all  his  nobles  and  peers  of  the  realm  were 
about  his  Grace,  and  my  Lord  of  Canterbury 
principal.  And  there  made  certain  prayers  and 
godly  psalms  over  his  Grace  ;  and  the  choire  an- 
swered with  goodly  singing,  the  organs  playing  and 
trumpets  blowing.  Then,  after  a  certain  unction, 
blessing,  and  signing  of  his  Grace,  he  was  borne 
into  a  place  by  the  high  altar,  where  the  Kings 
always  use  to  kneel  at  the  levation  of  the  Par- 
liament-mass. And  there  his  Grace  was  made 
ready  of  new  garments  ;  and  after  a  certain  space 
brought  forth  between  two  noblemen,  and  sat  be- 
fore the  high  altar  bare-headed.  Then  after  a 
while  his  Grace  was  anointed  in  the  breast,  his 
soles  of  his  feet,  his  elbows,  his  wrists  of  his 
hands,  and  his  crown  of  his  head,  with  virtuous 
prayer,  said  by  the  Bishop  of  Canterbury,  and 
sung  by  the  choire. 

"  Then,  anon  after  this,  a  goodly  fair  cloth  of 
red  tinsel  gold  was  hung  over  his  head  ;  and  my 
Lord  of  Canterbury  kneeling  on  his  knees,  and 
his  Grace  lying  prostrate  before  the  altar,  an- 
ointed his  back. 

"  Then  after  this,  my  Lord  of  Canterbury 
arose  and  stood  up,  and  the  fair  cloth  taken  away. 
11 


162  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Then  my  Lord  Protector,  Duke  of  Somerset, 
held  the  crown  in  his  hand  a  certain  space  ;  and 
immediately  after  began  Te  Deum,  with  the  or- 
gans going,  the  choire  singing,  and  the  trumpets 
playing  in  the  battlement  of  the  church.  Then 
immediately  after  that,  was  the  crown  set  on  the 
King's  Majesty's  head  by  them  two,  (viz.  Som- 
erset and  the  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,)  and 
after  that  another  crown  ;  and  so  his  Grace  was 
crowned  with  three  crowns." 

We  have  copied  thus  far  from  Strype's  u  Me- 
morials of  Cranmer."  To  this  is  added  a  most 
excellent  speech  of  the  Archbishop.  In  Bur- 
net's "Collection  of  Records"  is  the  order  for 
the  coronation  of  King  Edward,  which  was  ob- 
served as  above. 

King  Henry  had  undoubtedly  supposed  that  the 
terror  of  his  name  would  preserve  an  observance 
of  his  commands  after  his  death.  He  little  knew 
the  human  heart.  Affection  is  the  only  preserv- 
ative principle  ;  and,  his  son  and  Cranmer  ex- 
cepted, probably  in  all  the  kingdom  he  was  re- 
gretted by  none.  He  fixed  the  majority  of  the 
Prince  at  the  completion  of  his  eighteenth  *  year, 
and  appointed  sixteen  executors.  Cranmer  was 
the  first.  They  all  met  immediately,  and,  strange 
as  it  may  seem,  agreed  to  name  a  Protector  in 

*  So  says  Hume.     Smollet  says,  his  fifteenth  year. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  163 

defiance  of   Henry's  will.     The  choice   fell   on 
the  Earl  of  Hertford,  who  was  the  King's  uncle. 

The  friends  of  the  Reformation  no  longer  found 
it  necessary  to  suppress  their  sentiments.  The 
Protector  professed  the  same  opinions  as  Cran- 
mer,  and  the  young  Edward's  mind  and  character 
had  been  formed  by  the  Archbishop  and  his  pre- 
ceptor Dr.  Coxe,  who  embraced  the  Protestant 
principles. 

Gardiner,  who  had  so  long  been  an  active  en- 
emy to  reform,  was  not  named  in  Henry's  will  as 
an  executor  ;  but  his  spirit  was  unbroken,  and  he 
immediately  adopted  active  measures  to  preserve 
the  worship  of  saints  and  images,  and  the  use  of 
holy  water. 

We  may  now,  perhaps,  for  the  first  time  that 
we  have  known  Cranmer,  view  him  as  acting  for 
himself.  Hitherto,  he  had  been  cramped  by  his 
own  sense  of  duty  to  the  royal  authority.  Nor 
can  we  help  supposing  that  a  certain  unconscious 
terror  had  often  influenced  him  in  his  intercourse 
with  Henry.  All  men  are  not  equally  daring, 
nor  can  we  bring  them  to  the  same  standard  of 
courage.  Cranmer  was  a  chosen  instrument  in 
promoting  the  Reformation,  but  the  part  that  he 
acted  was  generally  the  defensive.  This,  as  he 
was  situated,  was  wise  ;  but,  probably,  had  it  not 
been  so,  he  would  never  have  had  courage  to  act 
otherwise.     He  shrank  from  the  savage  ferocity 


164  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

of  the  royal  eye  when  inflamed  with  anger,  and, 
it  is  to  be  feared,  sometimes  compromised  his 
sense  of  justice  with  his  obedience.  Courage  is 
a  constitutional  gift,  perhaps  more  decidedly  than 
any  other.  Let  us  hope,  that  now  the  royal  re- 
straint is  removed  which  acted  upon  him  like  the 
fabled  spells  of  old,  we  may  see  his  mind  and 
character  asserting  their  true  independence. 

The  first  care  of  Cranmer  was,  to  find  out 
means  to  instruct  the  people  in  religion.  He 
invited  the  Bishop  of  Winchester  to  join  him  in 
the  investigation.  This  was  done  probably  in 
consistency  with  the  caution  of  his  character, 
rather  than  in  the  hope  of  receiving  aid. 

Gardiner,  as  he  could  not  but  expect,  refused 
his  aid,  requesting  that  all  things  appertaining  to 
religion  might  remain  during  the  King's  minori- 
ty as  they  were,  and  particularly  desired  the 
Archbishop  to  refrain  from  making  homilies,  a 
measure  he  well  knew  that  he  purposed. 

When  Cranmer  found  he  could  not  persuade 
the  Bishop  of  Winchester  to  join  him,  he  began 
the  work  with  such  aid  as  he  could  find.  Twelve 
homilies  were  immediately  issued,  and  the  para- 
phrase of  Erasmus  on  the  New  Testament  was 
translated  into  English.  It  is  to  the  honor  of 
Catharine  Parr  that  a  portion  of  this  last  work  was 
translated  during  the  life  of  Henry  under  her  pat- 
ronage.    The  remainder  was  not  yet  in  readiness, 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  165 

but  the  parts  finished,  which  were  the  four  Gos- 
pels and  the  Acts  of  the  Apostles,  were  put  forth 
by  Edward's  authority  ;  and  it  was  required,  that 
every    congregation    should   be    supplied   with   a 

copy. 

Gardiner  strenuously  opposed  these  measures, 
and  made  particular  objection  to  the  homilies 
that  were  written  by  the  Archbishop.  There  is 
every  reason  to  suppose  that  Gardiner  as  truly  as- 
serted his  own  convictions,  as  Cranmer  did  his  ; 
but  the  times  were  altered,  and  Gardiner  had 
now  no  weight  of  royalty  to  support  his  opinions. 
That  there  was  a  mixture  of  obstinacy  and  spleen 
in  his  opposition  is  obvious  ;  he  greatly  harassed 
the  Archbishop  by  letters  and  observations.  At 
length  Cranmer  told  him,  with  a  bitterness  foreign 
to  his  nature,  "  that  he  liked  nothing  unless  he  did 
it  himself,  and  that  he  disliked  the  homilies  be- 
cause he  was  not  a  counsellor." 

The  absence  of  the  Protector,  who  had  gone 
to  Scotland  on  public  affairs,  gave  Gardiner  an 
opportunity  of  more  fully  opposing  the  measures 
of  the  Council,  and  he  requested  he  might  con- 
front them  together.  To  this  they  agreed,  and 
the  day  was  appointed.  Gardiner  entered,  dress- 
ed with  much  neatness  and  elegance,  according  to 
his  usual  custom.  He  was  received  with  courte- 
sy by  the  Council,  and  Cranmer  immediately  en- 
tered into  the  argument. 


166  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

"  It  is  fully  my  opinion,"  said  Gardiner,  "  that 
it  is  not  safe  to  make  new  stirs  in  religion. 
Nothing  now  ought  to  be  done  in  church  matters. 
As  in  a  natural  body  rest  without  trouble  confirms 
and  strengthens,  so  in  a  Commonwealth  trouble 
availeth  and  bringeth  things  to  weakness.  I  speak 
moreover  in  consideration  of  your  safety,  my 
Lord  of  Canterbury.  I  would  not  answer  for 
your  life  when  such  alterations  shall  be  made." 

For  a  long  time  they  argued  patiently,  but  at 
length  both  sides  growing  extremely  warm,  the 
interview  was  concluded  by  a  measure  highly  dis- 
honorable to  the  Council.  Gardiner  was  ordered 
to  the  Fleet  prison. 

We  can  hardly  imagine  a  more  disgraceful  or 
impolitic  act  than  this.  They  must  have  had  but 
an  imperfect  idea  of  his  character,  if  they  expect- 
ed to  convert  him  by  punishment  or  persecution. 
It  was  precisely  what  he  needed  to  elevate  him 
to  the  rank  of  a  hero,  and,  as  such,  was,  and 
has  continued  to  be,  regarded  by  Catholic  histo- 
rians. 

After  he  had  been  some  time  in  the  Fleet, 
Cranmer  was  sent  by  the  Council  to  confer  with 
him  and  endeavour  to  make  him  submit  without 
further  opposition  to  the  prevailing  measures. 

UI  have  come,"  said  the  Archbishop  with  his 
usual  mildness,  "because  I  consider  you  a  man 
meet  to  be  called  into  the  Council  ;  but,  never- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  167 

theless,  standing  too  much  in  obstinacy,  and  wear- 
ing more  the  appearance  of  obstinacy  than  zeal 
for  the  truth.  The  books,  which  are  now  to  be 
issued,  are  intended  more  to  work  a  reform  in 
men's  lives  and  conduct,  than  in  their  religious 
opinions." 

"  This  might  pass,  my  Lord,"  replied  Gardi- 
ner, "  if  your  Homilies  were  left  out,  particularly 
that  on  justification.  The  true  sense  of  which 
is,  '  We  be  justified  by  faith  without  all  works 
of  the  law.  Charity  is  a  work  of  the  law.  Er- 
go, we  are  justified  without  charity.'  " 

"  You  pervert  the  meaning  laid  down,"  re- 
plied Cranmer,  "  which  only  tendeth  to  show  the 
freedom  of  God's  mercy,  and  that  justification 
resteth  with  him  alone." 

"  There  are  as  many  faults  in  this  homily," 
said  Gardiner  sarcastically,  "  as  I  have  been  weeks 
in  prison  ;  and  if  you,  my  Lord  of  Canterbury, 
must  needs  travail  in  this  matter,  you  must  not 
expect  us  to  believe  that  faith  excludes  charity  in 
justification,  unless  you  do  it  per  force,  and  bor- 
row prisons  of  the  Protector.  Then  you  may 
find  some  that  will  agree  with  you,  as  poor  men 
kneel  at  Rome  when  the  Bishop  of  Rome  goeth 
by,  or  else  are  knocked  on  the  head  with  a  hal- 
bard.  As  to  Erasmus's  Paraphrase,  I  find  things 
enough  to  condemn  in  that.  Never  was  there  a 
truer  saying,   than    that  he  laid  the    eggs  which 


168  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Luther  hatched.  And,  of  all  the  monstrous  opin- 
ions that  have  arisen  in  the  world,  this  book  has 
been  one  of  the  most  fruitful  sources.  I  said  to 
you,  my  Lord,  and  to  the  Council  generally,  that 
the  malice  and  untruth  which  proceeded  from 
Erasmus's  pen  was  an  abomination,  and  more  es- 
pecially the  ignorance  of  the  translator ;  and  a 
charge  of  every  parish  to  buy  one  thereby  de- 
frauding the  realm  of  twenty  thousand  pounds,  (of 
which  I  have  made  an  estimate,)  by  the  buyers 
and  price  of  the  book.  It  is  for  this  cause  I  was 
sent  to  the  Fleet,  where,  God  knows,  I  have  en- 
dured every  hardship.  I  have  been  allowed 
neither  barber  nor  physician,  neither  servant  nor 
tailor,  neither  friend  nor  chaplain." 

"Permit  me,  my  Lord,"  replied  Cranmer, 
u  to  state  to  you  the  grounds  on  which  you  were 
committed  to  the  Fleet.  It  was  your  declaration 
that  the  King  ..." 

"  I  recollect  all  that  passed,"  said  Gardiner 
vehemently,  interrupting  him. 

The  Archbishop,  finding  himself  borne  down 
by  words,  though  not  by  argument,  soon  retired. 

To  Bonner,  Bishop  of  London,  the  injunctions 
and  Homilies  were  equally  disagreeable  ;  and, 
after  opposition  on  his  part,  he,  too,  was  com- 
mitted to  the  Fleet. 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  169 


CHAPTER    XII. 

We  now  quit  these  arbitrary  and  injudicious 
proceedings  for  a  time,  and  return  to  the  young 
King. 

Edward  was,  from  his  birth,  an  uncommon 
child.  He  early  discovered  remarkable  thought- 
fulness  of  character.  It  has  often  been  mention- 
ed, that  once,  when  engaged  in  some  childish 
amusement,  and  not  able  to  reach  an  object  which 
he  desired,  one  of  his  companions  placed  a  large 
Bible  on  the  floor  for  him  to  step  on  ;  he  care- 
fully took  it  up,  and  said,  with  glistening  eyes  ; 
u  I  don't  want  to  play  any  more  now."  His  ob- 
servance of  every  rule  in  his  education  seemed 
to  arise  not  so  much  from  deference  to  his  teach- 
ers, as  from  the  just  value  he  placed  upon  acquire- 
ments ;  and,  while  some  of  his  young  compan- 
ions considered  it  great  gain  to  evade  a  lesson, 
Edward  perfectly  comprehended  that  they  were 
defrauding  themselves.  At  eight  years  old  he 
wrote  Latin  letters  to  his  father,  and  also  to  the 
Archbishop,  and  Viscount  Beauchamp,  his  uncle, 
afterwards   Earl  of  Hertford.     To  Queen  Cath- 


170  CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

arine  Parr  he  also  wrote  in  Latin.  Jerome  Car- 
dan, an  Italian,  came  to  the  court  of  England 
while  Henry  was  living.  Though  a  man  of  great 
learning,  he  seems  to  have  been  infected  with  the 
superstition  of  the  times,  and  actually  calculated 
the  nativity  of  Edward.  His  testimony  to  the 
character  of  the  young  Prince  is  striking,  as  com- 
ing from  a  foreigner. 

u  All  the  graces  were  in  him.  He  had  many 
tongues  when  he  was  yet  but  a  child.  Together 
with  the  English,  his  natural  tongue,  he  had  both 
Latin  and  French,  nor  was  he  ignorant  of  the 
Greek,  Italian,  and  Spanish.  But  for  the  Eng- 
lish, French,  and  Latin,  he  was  exact  in  them, 
and  apt  to  learn  every  thing.  Nor  was  he  igno- 
rant of  logic  or  the  principles  of  natural  philoso- 
phy, nor  of  music.  The  sweetness  of  his  tem- 
per was  such  as  became  a  mortal ;  his  gravity 
such  as  became  the  majesty  of  a  King,  and  his 
disposition  suitable  to  this  high  degree.  In  sum, 
that  child  was  so  bred,  had  such  parts,  was  of 
such  expectation,  that  he  looked  like  a  miracle 
of  a  man.  These  things  are  not  spoken  rhetor- 
ically, and  beyond  the  truth,  but  are  indeed  short 
of  it.     He  was  a  marvellous  boy." 

He  then  goes  on  to  mention  questions  that  he 
asked  him,  and  answers  that  he  made,  which  show 
a  surprising  talent.  Had  this  testimony  been 
given  during  the  life  of  Henry,  we   might  have 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  171 

doubted  his  sincerity.  But  it  was  after  the  death 
of  both  father  and  son,  that  this  character  was 
drawn. 

"  He  began  to  love  the  liberal  arts,"  says  Car- 
dan, "  before  he  knew  them,  and  to  love  them 
before  he  could  use  them  ;  and  in  him  there  was 
such  an  attempt  of  nature,  that  not  only  England, 
but  the  world,  has  reason  to  lament  his  being 
snatched  away.  How  truly  is  it  said  of  such  ex- 
traordinary persons,  that  their  lives  are  short,  and 
seldom  do  they  come  to  be  old  !  He  gave  us 
an  essay  of  virtue,  though  he  did  not  like  to  give 
a  pattern  of  it.  When  the  gravity  of  a  King  was 
needful,  he  carried  himself  like  an  old  man  ;  and 
yet  he  was  always  affable  and  gentle,  as  became 
his  age.  He  played  on  the  lute,  he  meddled  in 
affairs  of  state,  and,  for  bounty,  he  did  in  that 
emulate  his  father  ;  though  he,  even  when  he  en- 
deavoured to  be  too  good,  might  appear  to  have 
been  bad.  But  there  was  no  ground  for  suspect- 
ing any  such  thing  in  the  son,  whose  mind  was 
cultivated  by  the  study  of  philosophy."* 

Cardan  lived  to  be  old,  and,  after  having  been 
imprisoned  at  Bologna,  retired  to  Rome  and  there 
ended  his  days.  He  was  said  to  be  eccentric 
and    enthusiastic,    as    his    character   of    Edward 

*  This  sketch  of  Edward  is  copied  from  Burnet's  "  His- 
tory of  the  Reformation." 


172  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

somewhat  shows.  When  free  from  pain,  he  usu- 
ally excited  uneasy  sensations  by  biting  his  lips, 
squeezing  his  fingers,  &c.  This,  he  said,  reliev- 
ed him,  or  changed  the  course  of  those  violent 
sallies  of  imagination,  and  lively  impressions  of 
the  brain,  which  disturbed  the  tranquillity  and  se- 
rene composure  of  his  mind.  Though  poor,  he 
was  honorable  in  his  dealings,  and  never  commit- 
ted any  immoral  action.  It  was  a  fact  that  he 
predicted  the  early  death  of  Edward  ;  but  this 
did  not  require  supernatural  skill  to  render  it  more 
than  probable.  He  likewise  cast  his  own  nativi- 
ty, and  fixed  the  day  of  his  death.  When  it 
drew  near,  he  refused  to  eat,  and  thus  fulfilled  his 
prophecy.  His  works,  which  are  numerous,  were 
printed  at  Lyons,  in  1663. 

We  have  said,  that  it  did  not  require  supernat- 
ural skill  to  tremble  for  the  life  of  the  young 
Prince.  There  was  that  in  the  tones  of  his 
voice,  in  the  clear  and  transparent  hue  of  his 
complexion,  in  the  lustrous  brightness  of  his  eye, 
that  seemed  more  allied  to  a  celestial  than  to  an 
earthly  nature. 

The  day  on  which  Hertford  was  appointed 
Protector,  Edward  was  informed  of  it  in  pres- 
ence of  the  Council,  and  that  it  was  done  by  unan- 
imous agreement.  He  pulled  off  his  cap,  and 
bowing  gracefully  round,  said  ;  "  We  heartily 
thank  you,  my  Lords,  all  ;  and  hereafter,  in  all 


CRANMER  AND  HIS   TIMES.  173 

that  ye  shall  have  to  do  with  us  for  any  suit  or 
causes,  ye  shall  be  heartily  welcome." 

The  dignity,  yet  sweetness  of  his  deportment, 
in  a  boy  not  quite  ten,  astonished  every  one.  He 
spoke  and  conducted  himself  with  perfect  self- 
possession,  not  that  which  arises  from  an  over- 
weening sense  of  power,  but  from  a  mind  fully 
conscious  of  the  high  office  he  was  called  to  fill, 
and  so  absorbed  in  the  sense  of  duty  and  responsi- 
bility as  to  forget  himself.  Yet  there  were  times, 
when  the  light-hearted  and  innocent  gayety  of  a 
child  animated  his  boyish  sports,  when  tops  and 
marbles,  hoops  and  balls,  succeeded  his  hours  of 
serious  study.  Then  was  his  clear,  musical  voice, 
heard  in  the  shout  and  laugh,  that  make  the  wel- 
kin ring.  Then  his  light,  agile  form  was  first  in 
those  exercises  that  require  activity  of  purpose, 
rather  than  animal  strength  and  vigor.  In  these 
last,  he  early  gave  indications  of  debility,  and 
often,  after  having  won  the  prize  for  feats  of  ac- 
tivity, he  would  seat  himself,  panting  and  exhaust- 
ed, at  the  foot  of  a  tree,  throw  off  his  cap,  and, 
while  his  curls  clustered  round  his  damp  forehead, 
and  his  face  was  pale  (for,  alas,  there  was  none 
of  the  animated  glow  of  health,)  from  exhaus- 
tion, he  would  take  his  Virgil  from  his  pocket,  and 
replenish  his  mind  while  his  frame  was  recruiting 
its  powers. 

Among  his  companions,  royalty  was  forgotten. 


174  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

They  were  fellow  associates  and  equals.  Nor 
would  he  permit  any  privilege  to  be  given  to  him- 
self which  they  did  not  share.  Yet  there  was  that 
in  his  deportment  which  restrained  rudeness  or 
riot.  If  his  companions  forgot  themselves,  he  si- 
lently withdrew  to  a  distance,  and  they  felt  at  once 
that  the  spirit  of  love  and  purity  was  gone.  The 
deference  they  paid  to  him  was  voluntary  ;  it  was 
not  given  to  the  Prince,  to  the  heir  of  Henry  the 
Eighth,  but  to  Edward,  the  loyal  and  rightful  in- 
heritor of  the  virtues  of  Jane  Seymour,  on  whom 
seemed  to  have  descended  her  sweetness  and  re- 
finement. With  her  early  death,  Edward  had 
naturally  connected  those  tender  and  melancholy 
associations,  that  in  such  cases  sometimes  occur 
to  a  peculiarly  sensitive  and  feeling  child.  She 
had  died  in  giving  birth  to  him,  and  he  had  an  in- 
definite sense  of  responsibility  resting  upon  him, 
that,  as  far  as  was  possible,  he  was  to  make  her 
place  good,  and  keep  alive  her  virtues.  All  that 
she  numbered  among  her  poor,  he  made  his  ;  and 
his  pocket-money  was  often  expended  in  deeds 
of  benevolence. 

The  discrimination  of  his  mind  between  act- 
ing and  feeling  was  very  remarkable  ;  he  early 
comprehended  that  good  thoughts  and  resolutions 
were  only  valuable  as  they  produced  active  re- 
sults. On  this  account  he  was  reserved  as  to  his 
own  emotions.     They  did  not  flow  out  spontane- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  175 

ously,  as  we  usually  see  in  childhood,  and  often  in 
riper  years.  They  were  seeds  that  sprung  up, 
and  brought  forth  fruits.  Had  his  disposition 
been  less  gentle  and  kind,  this  reserve  might  have 
been  mistaken  for  pride  or  coldness.  But  his  life 
was  filled  with  good  deeds,  and  no  one  could  mis- 
take any  little  peculiarities  of  manner.  The  ques- 
tions which  Cardan  tells  us  he  asked  him  in  his  fif- 
teenth year,  will  give  an  idea  of  the  philosophical 
turn  of  his  mind.  We  are  to  remember  that  he 
was  then  a  monarch,  surrounded  with  regal  splen- 
dor. How  meekly  he  sat  upon  the  throne,  and 
how  quietly  he  wore  the  crown,  proves  that  he 
prized  it  lightly,  when  compared  with  the  immor- 
tal one  he  sought  to  win. 

"He  asked  me,"  said  Cardan,  "what  was  the 
subject  of  my  books  cle  Rerum  Varietate,  which 
I  had  dedicated  to  him.  I  answered,  that  in  the 
first  chapter,  I  gave  the  true  cause  of  comets, 
which  had  long  been  inquired  into,  but  was  never 
found  out  before. 

"  '  What  is  it  ?  '  said  he. 

"  I  said,  it  was  the  concourse  of  the  light  of 
wandering  stars. 

u  He  answered,  c  How  can  that  be,  since  the 
stars  move  in  different  motions  ?  How  comes  it, 
that  the  comets  are  not  soon  dissipated,  or  do  not 
move  after  them  according  to  their  different  mo- 
tions ? ' 


176  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

<c  To  this  I  answered  ;  they  do  move  after 
them,  but  much  quicker  than  they,  by  reason  of 
the  different  aspect,  as  we  see  in  a  crystal,  or 
when  a  rainbow  rebounds  from  the  wall  ;  for  a  lit- 
tle change  makes  a  great  difference  of  place. 

"  But  the  King  said,  c  How  can  that  be,  where 
there  is  no  subject  to  receive  that  light,  as  the 
wall  is  the  subject  for  the  rainbow  ?  " 

"  To  this  I  replied,  that  this  was  the  milky 
way,  or  where  many  candles  were  lighted  ;  the 
middle  place  where  their  shining  met,  was  white 
and  clear." 

Lingard  mentions  deviations  from  the  usual 
form  of  coronations  when  Edward  was  crowned. 
11  That  the  delicate  health  of  the  young  King 
might  not  suffer  from  fatigue,  the  accustomed  cer- 
emony was  considerably  abridged,  and,  under 
pretence  of  respect  for  the  laws  and  constitution 
of  the  realm,  an  important  alteration  was  intro- 
duced into  that  part  of  the  form  which  had  been 
devised  by  our  Saxon  ancestors,  to  put  the  new 
sovereign  in  mind  that  he  held  this  crown  by  the 
free  choice  of  the  nation.  Hitherto,  it  had  been 
the  custom  for  the  Archbishop,  first  to  receive 
the  King's  oath  to  preserve  the  liberties  of  the 
realm,  and  then  to  ask  the  people  if  they  were 
willing  to  accept  him,  and  obey  him  as  their  liege 
Lord.  Now,  the  order  was  inverted;  and  not 
only  did  the  address  to  the  people  precede  the 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  177 

oath  of  the  King,  but  in  that  very  address  they 
were  reminded,  that  he  held  his  crown  by  descent, 
and  that  it  was  their  duty  to  submit  to  his  rule. 
4  Sirs,'  said  the  metropolitan,  (Cranmer,)  'I  here 
present  King  Edward,  rightful  and  undoubted  in- 
heritor by  the  laws  of  God  and  man  to  the  royal 
dignity  and  crown  imperial  of  this  realm,  whose 
consecration,  inunction,  and  coronation,  is  ap- 
pointed by  all  the  nobles  and  peers  of  the  land  to 
be  this  day.  Will  ye  serve  at  this  time,  and  give 
your  good  will  and  assents  to  the  same  consecra- 
tion, inunction,  and  coronation,  as  by  your  duty 
of  allegiance  ye  be  bound  to  do  ?  '  " 

We  give  this  quotation  from  the  Catholic  histo- 
rian, who  appears  to  us  generally  candid  and  just. 
Nor  do  we  doubt,  that  Cranmer,  in  consideration 
of  the  delicate  health  of  the  young  King,  might 
have  omitted  some  of  the  usual  forms.  Instead 
of  a  sermon,  he  made  a  short  and  comprehen- 
sive address,  the  whole  of  which  may  be  found 
in  Strype's  "  Memorials  of  Cranmer."  We  on- 
ly extract  a  few  sentences,  to  show  the  character 
of  it. 

"  The  solemn  rites  of  coronation  have  their 
ends  and  utility  ;  yet  neither  direct  force  of  ne- 
cessity. They  be  good  admonitions  to  put  kings 
in  mind  of  their  duty  to  God,  but  no  encrease- 
ment  of  their  dignity,  for  they  be  God's  anoint- 
ed ;  not  in  respect  of  the  oil  which  the  Bishop 

12 


178  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

useth,  but  in  consideration  of  their  power,  which 
is  ordained  ;  of  the  sword,  which  is  authorized  ; 
of  their  persons,  which  are  elected  of  God,  and 
endued  with  the  gifts  of  his  spirit,  for  the  better 
ruling  and  guiding  the  people. 

"  Your  Majesty  is  God's  vicegerent,  and 
Christ's  vicar  within  your  own  dominions,  and  to 
see,  with  your  predecessor  Josias,  God  truly  wor- 
shipped and  idolatry  destroyed,  the  tyranny  of 
the  Bishop  of  Rome  banished  from  your  subjects, 
and  images  removed.  These  acts  be  the  signs 
of  a  second  Josias,  who  reformed  the  church  of 
God  in  his  days.  You  are  to  reward  virtue,  to 
revenge  sin,  to  justify  the  innocent,  to  relieve  the 
poor,  to  procure  peace,  to  repress  violence,  and 
to  execute  justice  throughout  your  realms. 

"  For  precedents  on  those  kings  who  per- 
formed not  these  things,  the  Old  Law  shows  how 
the  Lord  revenged  his  quarrel  ;  and  on  those 
kings  who  fulfilled  these  things  he  poured  forth 
his  blessings  in  abundance.  For  example,  it  is 
written  of  Josias,  in  the  book  of  Kings,  thus  ; 
1  Like  unto  him  there  was  no  King,  that  turned 
to  the  Lord  with  all  his  heart,  according  to  all  the 
law  of  Moses  ;  neither  after  him  arose  there  any 
like  him.'  This  was  to  that  prince  a  perpetual 
fame  and  dignity,  to  remain  to  the  end  of  his 
days." 

Hitherto,  there  seems  to   have    been  no  one 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  179 

that,  from  his  birth,  had  so  entirely  engaged  the 
affection  of  Edward,  as  Cranmer.  Young  as  the 
Prince  was,  he  felt  the  influence  of  the  Primate's 
good  sense,  while  the  tenderness  and  gentleness 
of  his  counsels  supplied  to  him  in  some  measure 
the  place  of  a  mother.  The  spring  of  filial  affec- 
tion, which  rises  in  the  heart,  easily  overflows. 
Edward's  nature  was  one  of  love,  and  it  was  happy 
for  him  that  such  a  man  as  the  Archbishop  was 
near  him.  Henry  seems  to  have  seen  the  influ- 
ence he  exercised  over  Edward,  with  complacen- 
cy ;  and,  in  naming  him  first  among  the  sixteen 
counsellors,  proved  that  he  stood  prominent  in  his 
mind. 

The  first  meeting  of  the  august  body,  as  we 
have  seen,  changed  the  King's  testament,  and  the 
Earl  of  Hertford  was  chosen  Protector.  This 
measure  was  opposed  by  one  of  them,  Wriothes- 
ly,  the  inhuman  torturer  of  Anne  Askew.  But 
it  appeared  obvious  that  a  head  was  wanting  to 
the  body  of  counsellors,  and  the  maternal  uncle 
of  the  King,  a  man  of  unblemished  character, 
was  the  most  eligible.  He  was  created  Duke 
of  Somerset,  and  under  that  title  is  universal- 
ly known.  This  choice  was  perfectly  in  unison 
with  Cranmer's  views  and  wishes.  Somerset  was 
friendly  to  the  Reformation,  and  the  greatest 
friendship  and  harmony  had  existed  between 
them. 


180  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 


CHAPTER  XIII. 

The  measures  for  the  Reformation  now  went 
on  for  a  time  with  little  serious  opposition.  The 
spirit  of  Cranmer  is  manifest,  particularly,  in  what 
was  called  the  royal  visitation,  which  was  the  step 
that  first  excited  the  impetuous  opposition  of  the 
Bishop  of  Winchester.  He  saw  in  it  a  complete 
overthrow  of  the  ancient  faith,  and  a  total  aboli- 
tion of  the  use  of  Catholic  ordinances.  With 
how  little  success  he  at  this  period  opposed  the 
measures  of  the  reformers,  has  been  seen.  Cran- 
mer, who  acted  by  the  authority  of  the  Protector, 
and  was  the  soul  of  the  Protestant  faith  in  Eng- 
land, was  fully  aware  that  Henry's  system  had 
been  rather  to  increase  his  own  power  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  Pope,  than  to  encourage  the  vital  spirit 
of  reform  ;  and  he  now  seriously  set  about  build- 
ing up,  as  well  as  pulling  down. 

He  was  averse  to  all  violent  changes,  and  wish- 
ed to  effect  them  gradually.  It  was,  therefore,  a 
great  object  with  him,  to  retain  all  the  ancient 
forms  that  could  be  kept  consistently  with  the 
new  faith,  and  to  establish  a  hierarchy,  which, 
while  it  included  that  system  of  doctrine  and  dis- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  181 

cipline  which  he  deemed  the  most  pure  and  per- 
fect, might  be  an  effectual  barrier  against  the  Cath- 
olic religion,  and  yet  keep  alive  those  of  its  cere- 
monies which  he  considered  harmless.  It  was 
on  this  principle,  that  the  English  hierarchy  was 
formed,  and,  if  the  preservation  of  it  is  a  proof 
of  its  excellence,  as  it  has  subsisted  so  many 
years  without  any  essential  change,  we  must  allow 
its  wisdom.  The  same  argument,  however,  is 
used  with  perhaps  equal  force  by  the  Catholics, 
in  support  of  their  ancient  faith. 

The  first  measure  was  the  visitation,  which 
consisted  of  a  certain  number  of  clergy  and  laity, 
who  were  to  correct  immoralities,  to  abolish  the 
ancient  superstitions  among  the  dioceses  of  Eng- 
land, such  as  sprinkling  their  beds  with  holy  water 
and  using  consecrated  candles  to  drive  away  the 
Devil. 

At  the  present  day  wre  may  smile  at  the  idea 
of  removing  superstition  by  authority.  It  melts 
away  before  the  diffusion  of  knowledge.  It  was 
not  the  penal  laws  against  witchcraft  and  necro- 
mancy, that  brought  them  into  disrepute.  It  was 
the  light  of  intellect  that  made  them  ridiculous 
long  before  they  were  illegal. 

While  these  measures  were  going  on  with  the 
utmost  steadiness  and  moderation,  and  all  images 
preserved  which  had  not  been  abused  by  idolatry, 
the  Protector  formed  the   project  of  uniting  the 


182  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

two  kingdoms  of  Scotland  and  England,  by  the 
marriage  of  Mary,  daughter  of  the  Queen  Dow- 
ager, sister  of  Henry,  to  the  young  King  Edward. 

The  Queen  Dowager's  attachment  to  France, 
and  her  devotion  to  the  Catholic  religion,  rendered 
this  negotiation  ineffectual  ;  and,  as  Somerset 
considered  it  an  object  of  the  highest  political 
moment,  he  determined  to  woo  for  Edward  bv 
the  force  of  arms.  Every  history  of  the  two 
kingdoms  gives  a  minute  recital  of  the  battles 
which  took  place,  and  which  seemed  to  have  no 
decisive  result,  except  that  of  throwing  the  young 
Queen  into  the  power  of  the  French.  She  was 
betrothed  to  the  Dauphin  and  sent  to  France. 

Edward  was  yet  too  young  to  take  any  other 
interest  in  this  negotiation  than  as  an  affair  of 
the  realm.  If  he  had  understood  its  true  na- 
ture, and  how  intimately  his  future  weal  or  woe 
might  have  been  implicated  in  the  success,  even 
then  his  sensitive  spirit  might  have  hesitated. 
What  sensations  rise  in  the  mind  at  the  mention 
of  the  Scottish  Queen,  the  beautiful,  imprudent, 
and  ill-fated  Mary  !  Ages  have  passed  since  her 
fate  was  consummated.  Her  fame  has  been 
blackened  by  enemies,  her  conduct  censured  by 
the  cautious  and  the  candid,  and  yet  the  cruel 
deed  of  the  wise  and  successful  Elizabeth  is  con- 
templated with  sensations  of  horror  and  disgust. 
In  her  conduct  towards  her  confiding  relative  she 


CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES.  183 

proved   herself  the    legitimate    daughter    of   the 
murderer  of  her  mother. 

Although  the  Protector  had  failed  in  his  pro- 
ject of  uniting  the  two  kingdoms,  he  obtained 
several  victories  over  the  Scots,  and  returned 
home  covered  with  honors,  and  immediately  call- 
ed a  Parliament. 

There  are  few  that  meekly  sustain  the  elevation 
of  rank.  The  Duke  seems  to  have  been  elated 
by  his  success,  and  made  a  foolish  request  to  the 
young  King,  that  he  would  grant  him  a  patent  al- 
lowing him  to  sit  at  his  right  hand  on  the  throne. 
Edward  willingly  complied,  and  ordered  a  seat  to 
be  placed  there  for  that  purpose. 

Slight  as  this  concession  seems,  it  was  the 
cause  of  much  ill  will  towards  the  Duke,  who 
claimed  (the  Peers  said)  the  same  privileges  as 
the  blood  royal. 

Somerset  passed  several  laws  during  this  ses- 
sion that  annulled  much  of  the  severity  of  former 
acts.  Heresy,  still,  however,  was  considered  a 
capital  crime,  and  punished  by  burning. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Henry  the  Eighth,  his 
widow,  Catharine  Parr,  married  Lord  Seymour, 
brother  to  the  Protector.  It  was  said  that  she 
had  been  attached  to  him  before  her  marriage  with 
the  King.  She  certainly  did  not  think  it  neces- 
sary to  keep  up  much  form  on  this  occasion,  as 
they  were  united  immediately  after  her  royal  hus- 


184  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

band's  death.  Seymour,  Lord  Admiral,  was  a 
man  of  great  ambition,  and  boasted  to  his  sister- 
in-law,  the  wife  of  the  Protector,  that  his  wife 
Catharine,  held  the  first  place  in  the  realm.  The 
Duchess  of  Somerset  could  by  no  means  brook 
this  idea,  having  fully  believed  that  the  first  place 
belonged  to  herself,  and  immediately  conceived 
the  petty  rivalry  of  a  vain  and  foolish  woman. 
Catharine  was  every  way  her  superior,  and  entered 
but  little  into  the  heart-burnings  that  existed  with 
her  sister-in-law.  Meanwhile  the  Duchess  im- 
prudently repeated  the  observations  of  Paget,  the 
secretary  of  Somerset,  who  remarked,  that  Sey- 
mour was  forming  intrigues  among  the  counsel- 
lors, corrupting  by  presents  the  King's  servants, 
and  striving  by  excessive  indulgence  to  win  the 
affections  of  the  monarch  himself.  There  proba- 
bly was  foundation  for  these  suspicions  ;  but  the 
mild  temper  of  Somerset  made  him  overlook 
them,,  and  the  sudden  death  of  Seymour's  wife, 
the  Queen  Dowager,  appeased  the  resentment  of 
the  Duchess  by  removing  her  rival. 

For  a  time,  all  enmity  seemed  to  have  died 
away,  till  it  was  discovered  that  Seymour  was 
trying  to  win  the  affections  of  Elizabeth,  then  in 
her  sixteenth  year.  It  is  said  she  received  him 
with  complacency.  But  little  weight,  however, 
ought  to  be  given  to  the  slanders  of  a  court, 
where,  under  the  mask  of  courtesy,  the  worst  pas- 


CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES.  185 

sions  are  often  in  operation  ;  and,  even  admitting 
that  the  same  fondness  for  admiration  actuated  her 
then,  which  she  betrayed  in  later  years,  when 
Leicester  and  Essex  received  the  fatal  distinc- 
tion of  her  favor,  it  was  the  slightest  of  all  testi- 
monies to  his  influence.  The  other  charge,  too, 
seems  unimportant,  of  endeavouring  to  seduce  the 
young  King  into  his  interests.  Edward  loved 
every  one  who  discovered  affection  for  him,  and 
it  was  natural  that  both  of  his  uncles  should  hold 
a  high  place  in  his  regard. 

The  political  charges  against  Seymour  are  of 
much  stronger  import,  and  such  as  could  not  be 
easily  parried.  He  openly  derided  his  brother's 
measures,  and  even  went  so  far  as  to  provide 
arms  for  his  retainers,  that  they  might  be  in  readi- 
ness for  rebellion.  The  Protector  at  first  sought 
to  convince  him  of  the  folly,  and  represented  the 
ruin  that  must  accrue  to  both  from  family  divis- 
ions. But  Dudley,  Earl  of  Warwick,  who  was 
one  of  the  Council,  found  it  convenient  for  his 
own  views  to  foment  the  difference  between  the 
brothers. 

Somerset,  for  a  long  time,  resisted  all  provoca- 
tions that  aimed  only  at  himself;  and  it  was  not  till 
the  public  peace  was  endangered  by  Seymour's 
seditious  measures,  that  he  used  his  royal  author- 
ity, and  deprived  him  of  the  office  of  Admiral. 
Even  then  he  offered  to  suspend  all  further  pros- 


186  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ecution,  if  his  brother  would  be  cordially  recon- 
ciled, and  consent  to  retire  to  the  country  on  a  pa- 
ternal estate  which  he  offered  to  surrender  to  him. 

Seymour  received  these  conciliatory  terms  with 
the  utmost  indignation,  and  defied  him  to  do  his 
worst.  Articles  were  then  drawn  up  against  him, 
and  he  was  committed  to  the  Tower,  and,  soon 
after,  executed.  There  seems  to  have  been  in- 
formalities in  his  trial,  the  details  of  which  are 
given  in  the  first  volume  of  "  British  State  Tri- 
als." That  the  warrant  was  signed  by  his  brother, 
fills  us  with  horror  ;  and  that  Cranmer  signed  it, 
excites  our  indignation,  though  this  was  a  necessa- 
ry consequence  of  the  other.  The  young  King, 
when  applied  to  on  the  occasion,  appears  to  have 
considered  it  a  subject  which  he  could  not  fully 
comprehend,  but  one  from  which  he  turned  with 
aversion.  If  the  peace  of  the  realm  demanded 
decisive  measures,  it  was  not  for  him  to  avert  the 
blow  from  his  own  private  feelings.  He  therefore 
thanked  the  counsellors  for  their  care  of  his  safety, 
and  commanded  them  "  to  do  what  was  right  with- 
out further  molesting  him  ;  "  and  when  they  still 
represented  the  necessity  of  punishment,  he  said, 
with  an  impatience  that  betokened  his  state  of  feel- 
ing, "  No  more,  I  pray  you,  my  Lords,  no  more." 

Alas  !  that  one  so  gentle,  so  full  of  peace  and 
Christian  love,  should  be  called  on  to  assent  to 
such  deeds.     We  are  almost  ready  to  hope  and 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  187 

believe,  that  an  earthly  crown  will  soon  be  ex- 
changed for  an  immortal  one. 

Hugh  Latimer,  a  man  of  the  most  amiable 
character,  of  uncommon  learning,  but  almost 
childish  simplicity,  delivered  a  sermon  at  West- 
minster, on  the  29th  day  of  March.  Seymour 
was  beheaded  on  the  20th.  This  was  published 
in  the  first  edition  of  his  sermons,  but  has  since 
been  omitted.  It  certainly  does  not  do  him  much 
credit,  and  is  more  remarkable  for  its  childish 
vituperation  of  Seymour,  than  for  piety  or  good 
sense.  One  sentence  only,  from  his  seventh 
sermon,  we  quote. 

"  I  have  heard  say,  when  that  good  Queene  " 
(meaning  Catharine  Parr,  his  wife,)  "  that  is  gone, 
ordained  in  her  house  dayly  prayer,  both  before 
none  and  after  none,  the  Admyral  gettes  hym  out 
of  the  waye,  like  a  moule  diggyng  in  the  earth. 
He  shall  be  Lot's  wyfe  to  me  as  long  as  I  lyve. 
He  was  a  covetous  manne,  an  horrible  covetous 
manne  ;  I  woulde  there  were  no  mo  in  Englande  : 
he  was  an  ambicious  man  ;  I  woulde  there  were 
no  mo  in  Englande  :  he  was  a  sedicious  man,  a 
contemner  of  Commune  Prayer  ;  I  woulde  there 
were  no  mo  in  Englande  :  he  is  gone,  I  woulde 
he  had  lefte  none  behind  him." 

Soon  after  Henry's  death,  the  Archbishop  sent 
for  his  wife,  Anne,  to  return  to  him.  The  exact 
time  is  not  known,  as  he  did  not  openly  brave  the 


188  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

law  made  by  the  late  King,  but  she  always  lived 
much  in  retirement.  This  was  consonant  to  her 
own  taste,  and  Edward  made  ample  provision  for 
her  and  her  children,  adding  to  and  confirming  a 
former  gift  of  his  royal  father's,  which  could  not 
be  alienated.  It  was  not,  however,  till  1548, 
that  the  Parliament  enacted  a  law,  permitting  the 
marriage  of  priests,  yet,  in  the  preamble,  recom- 
mending it  to  them  not  to  marry. 

During  this  session,  other  important  acts  were 
passed.  Cranmer  had  effected  what  he  had  so 
many  years  been  patiently  laboring  for.  The 
principal  tenets  and  practices  of  the  Catholic 
Church  were  nearly  abolished,  and  the  Reforma- 
tion, as  it  stands  in  the  Church  of  England,  was 
adopted.  The  doctrine  of  the  real  presence  was 
still,  however,  maintained,  with  great  zeal  by  many. 
Bonner  had  been  deprived  of  his  See  for  this 
offence,  and  Gardiner,  who  had  now  recovered  his 
liberty,  maintaining  this  and  other  heretic  doc- 
trines, was  sent  to  the  Tower.  The  term  heretic 
had  wholly  changed  its  meaning.  Those  were 
heretics  who  maintained  the  Popish  articles,  and 
this  was  one  of  the  most  important. 

To  effect  a  uniformity,  however,  in  religious 
opinions,  when  the  Bible  was  again  opened  to  the 
laity,  and  their  minds  were  suffered  to  act  with 
freedom,  was  impossible.  Though  Cranmer  and 
other  Protestant  divines  had  ventured  to  renounce 


CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES.  189 

opinions  sanctioned  by  ages,  they  considered  their 
own  the  standard  of  right,  and  sought  by  penal 
measures  to  convince  men  of  the  truth. 

A  commission  was  made  out  for  the  Primate, 
and  those  he  should  appoint,  to  examine  and 
search  for  heretics  who  should  refuse  the  Book  of 
Common  Prayer,  now  the  established  faith.  In 
the  execution  of  this  commission,  they  wrere  not 
bound  to  observe  the  common  judicial  laws  ;  they 
might  impose  whatever  penances  they  pleased, 
condemn  or  absolve  as  they  saw  fit,  imprison 
and  deliver  over  to  the  secular  arm.  Thus  was 
Cranmer  constituted  at  once  Grand  Inquisitor. 
Happily  his  temper  made  this  power  less  terrible 
than  might  have  been  feared.  Many  wTere  brought 
before  him  whom  he  dismissed,  not  choosing  to 
consider  their  heresy  fatal  to  the  cause  of  religion, 
or  else  persuading  them  to  such  abjurations  of 
their  opinions  as  satisfied  his  own  conscience. 

But  there  was  one  woman  who  was  so  pertina* 
cious,that  the  commissioners  could  obtain  no  con- 
cessions. This  was  the  memorable  Joan  Booker, 
of  Kent.  Her  opinions  seem  to  have  no  clear 
definition,  and  might  have  been  suffered  to  pass 
as  the  ravings  of  a  maniac.  Cranmer,  after  try- 
ing hard  to  convince  her,  pronounced  against  her  a 
sentence  of  excommunication,  and  she  was  deliv- 
ered over  to  the  secular  arm. 

This  case  had,  from  accidental  circumstances, 


190  CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

0 

been  brought  more  particularly  before  the  young 
King,  than  others  had  been.  Though  yet  a  child, 
compared  to  the  learned  men  about  him,  he  re- 
fused to  sign  the  mandate  for  her  execution,  and 
she  remained  in  prison  a  year.  During  that  time 
she  was  visited  by  Cranmer,  and  by  Ridley, 
Bishop  of  London.  But  she  adhered  inflexibly 
to  her  opinion,  "  that  Christ  was  not  flesh,  and 
that  our  Saviour  had  a  fantastical  body." 

Some  historians  have  endeavoured  to  prove, 
that  Cranmer  had  no  part  in  condemning  this  un- 
fortunate woman  to  the  stake  ;  but  it  is  too  well 
known  that  he  used  every  argument  with  the 
young  King  to  persuade  him,  that  it  was  a  neces- 
sary act,  and  to  induce  him  to  set  his  hand  to  the 
warrant. 

Let  us  imagine  the  scene  for  a  moment.  Cran- 
mer, invested  with  all  the  authority  of  the  Church, 
the  chosen  counsellor  of  Edward's  father,  the 
man  whom  he  loved  and  revered  and  whose  puri- 
ty and  benevolence  had  been  fully  proved,  stood 
before  the  princely  boy,  so  young,  so  gentle,  and, 
hitherto,  so  obedient.  He  offers  him  the  pen, 
which  Edward  rejects  with  his  hand,  while  he 
averts  his  eyes  from  the  fatal  and  murderous  war- 
rant. Cranmer  reasons  and  urges,  pleads  the  ne- 
cessity of  punishing  such  obstinate  error  by  death, 
and  that,  painful  and  agonizing  to  him  as  was  this 
deed,  nothing  short  of  it  could  permanently  se- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  191 

cure  the  truth  from  violation.  The  venerable 
form  of  the  Primate  becomes  agitated  under  the 
strength  of  his  own  emotion.  There  is  a  con- 
vincing power  in  sincerity,  and  Cranmer  spake 
from  the  conviction  of  his  own  soul.  "  My 
Lord,"  said  he,  "  I  urge  you  to  this  measure 
with  bitterness  and  anguish." 

Still  Edward  resists. 

"  If  there  is  sin  in  this  deed,"  continues  the 
Archbishop,  "it  will  rest  on  my  head.  Were 
this  merely  an  error,  it  might  pass  ;  but  it  is  de- 
nying the  Apostles'  Creed  ;  it  is  impiety  against 
God,  which  you,  as  God's  deputy,  are  bound  to 

repress." 

Edward  takes  the  pen  again  offered  to  him. 
The  tears  which  had  stood  in  his  eyes  course 
down  his  cheeks. 

"  Be  it  so,  then.  If  there  is  sin,  it  rests  on 
you  ;  for  God  knows  how  unwillingly  I  sign  this 
warrant." 

The  deed  is  done  !  and  the  poor,  ignorant  en- 
thusiast is  burned  at  the  stake. 

Bitterly  must  the  friends  of  Cranmer  lament 
this  decision  of  the  darkest  bigotry.  Hitherto, 
in  errors  that  have  most  tried  our  veneration  for 
the  prelate,  we  have  seen  him  fettered  by  his 
sense  of  loyalty,  or  yielding  from  necessity  to  the 
laws  of  the  land.  But  we  here  behold  him  act- 
ing  for   himself,    with   perfect   deliberation,  and 


192  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

urging  his  beloved  pupil  to  a  deed  of  blood. 
We  can  only  repeat  a  sentence  from  his  own 
Litany  ; 

u  Remember  not,  Lord,  our  offences,  nor  the 
offences  of  our  forefathers  ;  neither  take  Thou 
vengeance  of  our  sins  :  spare  us,  good  Lord, 
spare  thy  people. " 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  193 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

While  these  scenes  were  passing,  Edward 
seems  to  have  been  perfecting  himself  in  learning 
and  Christian  graces.  His  original  journal,  in  his 
own  hand,  is  preserved  in  the  Cottonian  libra- 
ry. It  begins  the  first  year  of  his  reign,  and 
seems  to  be  a  narration  of  events  which  passed  at 
the  time.  It  may  be  interesting  to  transcribe  a 
short  account  of  an  entertainment,  in  June,  1549. 

"  I  went  to  Deptford,  being  bidden  to  supper 
by  Lord  Clinton  ;  where,  before  supper,  I  saw 
certain  men  standing  upon  one  end  of  a  boat, 
without  holding  of  any  thing,  and  ran  one  at  an- 
other, till  one  was  cast  into  the  water.  At  sup- 
per Monsieur  Vicedam  and  Henandie  supped 
with  me.  After  supper,  there  was  made  a  fort 
upon  a  great  lighter  on  the  Thames,  which  had 
three  walls,  and  a  watch-tower,  in  the  midst  of 
which  Mr.  Winter  was  captain,  with  forty  or  fifty 
other  soldiers  in  yellow  and  black.  To  the  fort 
also  appertained  a  gallery  of  yellow  color,  with 
men  and  ammunition  in  it  for  defence  of  the  cas- 
tle. Wherefore  there  came  four  pinnaces  with 
their  men  in  white,  handsomely  dressed  ;  which, 

13 


194  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

intending  to  give  assault  to  the  castle,  first  drove 
away  the  pinnace,  and  after,  with  clods,  squibs, 
canes  of  fire-darts  made  for  the  nonce,  and  bom- 
bards, assaulted  the  castle  ;  and  at  last  came  with 
their  pieces  and  burst  the  outer  walls  of  the  cas- 
tle, beating  them  off  the  castle  into  the  second 
ward,  who  after  issued  out  and  drove  away  the 
pinnaces,  sinking  one  of  them,  out  of  which,  all 
the  men  in  it,  being  more  than  twenty,  leaped  out 
and  swam  upon  the  Thames.  Then  came  the 
Admiral  of  the  Navy,  with  three  other  pinnaces, 
and  won  the  castle  by  assault,  and  burst  the  top 
of  it  down,  and  took  the  Captain  and  under  Cap- 
tain. Then  the  Admiral  went  forth  to  take  the 
yellow  ship,  and  at  length  clasped  with  her,  took 
her,  and  assaulted  also  her  top,  and  won  it  also  by 
compulsion,  and  so  returned  home." 

It  is  observable,  that  in  this  and  other  parts  of 
his  journal,  there  is  no  mention  of  himself  as  the 
object  of  the  entertainments.  He  appears  to  con- 
sider himself  like  the  other  spectators,  rather  than 
as  the  King  of  a  great  nation,  for  whom  they  were 
made.  The  remarkable  simplicity  of  this  diary, 
recording  only  events,  is  striking.  Seldom  does 
he  appear  as  an  actor  in  the  scene.  His  own 
opinions,  or  emotions,  are  never  introduced. 
How  unlike  the  egotism  of  youth  ! 

The  journal  continues  ; 

"  April.     A  challenge  made   by  me,  that  I, 


CRANMER  AND  HIS   TIMES.  195 

with  sixteen  of  my  chamber,  should  run  at  base, 
shoot,  run  at  the  ring  with  seventeen  of  my  ser- 
vants, gentlemen  of  the  Court." 

The  first  day  of  the  challenge  at  base  or  run- 
ning, the  King  won.  "  I  lost  the  challenge  of 
shooting  at  rounds,  and  won  at  rovers." 

Throughout  the  journal  there  are  slight  allu- 
sions to  his  sister  Mary's  opposition. 

"  The  lady  Mary,  my  sister,  came  to  me  to 
Westminster,  where,  after  salutations,  she  was 
called  with  my  Council  into  a  chamber  ;  where 
was  declared  to  her  how  long  I  had  suffered  her 
mass  in  hope  of  her  reconciliation,  and  how  now, 
being  no  hope  which  I  perceived  by  her  letters, 
except  I  saw  some  short  amendment,  I  could  not 
bear  it.  She  answered  that  her  soul  was  God's, 
and  her  faith  she  would  not  change,  nor  dissem- 
ble her  opinion  with  contrary  doings.  It  was  said, 
I  constrained  not  her  faith,  but  willed  her  not  as 
a  king  to  rule,  but  as  a  subject  to  obey ;  and 
that  her  example  might  breed  too  much  incon- 


venience." 


The  following  year,  in  June,  is  this  entry  in 
the  diary  ; 

"  June  22d.  The  lady  Mary  sent  letters  to 
the  Council,  marvelling  at  the  imprisonment  of 
Dr.  Mallet,  her  chaplain,  for  saying  of  mass  be- 
fore the  household,  seeing  it  was  promised  to  the 


196  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Emperor's  ambassador,  that  she  should  have  the 
mass  said  continually  before  them. 

"  24th.  They  answered,  c  That  because  of 
their  duties  to  their  King,  country,  and  friends, 
they  were  compelled  to  give  her  answer,  that  they 
would  see  not  only  him,  but  also  all  other  mass- 
sayers,  and  breakers  of  orders,  strictly  punished. 
And,  as  for  promise,  they  had  nor  would  give 
none  to  make  her  free  from  the  punishment  of 
the  law  in  that  behalf.'  " 

After  the  negotiation  for  the  marriage  of  Ed- 
ward with  Mary,  Queen  of  Scots,  was  set  aside, 
another  was  proposed  between  him  and  the  French 
king's  eldest  daughter,  Elizabeth,  to  which  Ed- 
ward says,  u  they  did  most  cheerfully  assent. 
So  after  they  agreed,  neither  party  to  be  bound  in 
conscience  nor  honor  till  she  were  twelve  years 
of  age  and  upwards.  [The  French  king  was 
then  Henry  the  Second,  successor  of  Francis.] 
Then  they  came  to  the  dot,  which  was  first  asked 
1,500,000  scutes  of  France,  at  which  they  made 
a  mock  ;  also  for  donatio  propter  nuptias,  they 
agreed  that  it  should  be  as  great  as  had  been 
given  by  the  King  my  father,  to  any  wife  he 
had,"  even  Catharine  of  Aragon. 

cc  22d.  Our  commissioners  came  to  1,400,000 
of  crowns,  which  they  refused  ;  then  to  a  million, 
which  they  denied  ;  then  to  800,000,  which  they 
said  they  would  not  agree  to. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  197 

"  23d.  Then  our  commissioners  asked  what 
they  would  offer.  First,  they  offered  100,000 
of  crowns  ;  then  200,000,  which  they  said  was 
the  most,  and  more  than  ever  was  given.  Then 
followed  great  reasonings,  and  showing  of  presi- 
dents [precedents],  but  no  nearer  would  they 
come. 

"  24  th.  Then  went  forward  under  the  penal- 
ties if  the  parties  misliked,  after  that  the  King's 
daughter  were  twelve  years  old  and  upwards, 
which  the  French  offered  100,000,  50,000 
crowns,  and  promises,  that  she  should  be  brought 
at  her  father's  charge,  three  months  before  she 
was  twelve,  sufficiently  jewelled  and  stuffed. 
Then  bonds  to  be  delivered  alternately  at  London 
and  at  Paris,  and  so  forth." 

This  was  the  second  gallant  negotiation  for  the 
nuptials  of  Edward. 

"  July  26th.  Monsieur  de  Mareschal  (who 
was  ambassador  from  the  French)  dined  with  me. 
After  dinner,  saw  the  strength  of  the  English 
archers.  After  he  had  so  done,  at  his  departure 
I  gave  him  a  diamond  from  my  finger,  worth  by 
estimation  one  hundred  and  fifty  pounds,  both  for 
his  pains  and  also  by  memory." 

These  nuptial  matters  were  relinquished.  A 
year  later,  is  recorded  another  fete. 

"  The  same  night  was  first  a  play,  after  a  talk 
between  one  that  was  called  Riches,  and  the  other 


198  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Youth,  whether  of  them  was  better.  After  some 
pretty  reasoning,  there  came  in  six  champions  on 
either  side. 


"  On  Riches'  side 
my  Lord  Fitzwarren 
with  five  others." 


"  On  Youth's  side 
came  my  Lord  Fitz- 
worthy.  [Five  others 
are  mentioned.] 

This  is  all  the  account  we  have  of  the  drama, 
though  there  were  tournaments  and  masks  suc- 
ceeding it. 

In  the  third  year  of  the  journal,  a  slight  men- 
tion is  made  of  the  burning  of  u  Joan  Bocher, 
always  called  Joan  of  Kent,"  but  no  comments 
of  his  own  on  the  subject.  This  fully  shows  the 
principle  upon  which  the  journal  was  kept ;  other- 
wise, an  event  which  had  cost  him  so  much  sor- 
row, and  so  many  tears,  and  which  he  contended 
against  for  a  whole  year,  would  have  called  forth 
a  history  of  his  emotion. 

It  was  in  the  year  1548,  that  Cranmer  began 
his  labors  on  the  liturgy  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. Strype  gives  the  names  of  the  twelve 
commissioners  who  were  engaged  with  him. 
Their  object  was,  to  preserve  all  they  could  of 
the  old  form,  and  divest  it  of  its  superstitions. 
Le  Bas,  in  his  "Life  of  Cranmer,"  enumerates 
the  essential  advantages  of  this  performance, 
quoted  from  Ridley. 

"  1st.  The  service  in  a  language  known  to  the 
people. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  199 

"  2nd.  Scripture  lessons  instead  of  legendary 
tales. 

"3d.  The  Bible  read  through  in  order,  with- 
out interruptions. 

"4th.   The  creed  more  properly  disposed. 

"  5th.  The  Lord's  Prayer  introduced  imme- 
diately before  reading  or  other  devotion. 

"  6th.  Repeated  audibly  instead  of  secretly. 

"  7th.   The  Ave-Maria  omitted. 

"  8th.   The  monkish  metrical  hymns  rejected. 

"  9th.   The  prayers  for  the  dead  omitted. 

"  10th,  and  lastly.  Addresses  to  saints  to- 
gether with  consecrations,  exorcisms,  and  absolu- 
tion, in  the  precatory  form,  without  any  procla- 
mation of  the  power  of  the  keys." 

The  book  was  received  by  the  laity  generally 
with  great  satisfaction.  The  clergy  were  by  no 
means  satisfied  with  it. 


200  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES, 


CHAPTER  XV. 

In  1549,  the  kingdom  was  in  a  tumultuous 
state  from  a  severe  famine,  which  arose  from  vari- 
ous circumstances,  explained  at  length  in  Hume's 
"  History  of  England."  The  priests  took  this 
opportunity  to  influence  the  minds  of  the  people 
against  the  new  doctrines.  They  said,  "  The 
famine  was  a  judgment  for  the  abolition  of  the 
Catholic  religion  ;  and,  till  that  was  restored,  the 
people  must  not  look  either  for  seed-time  or  har- 
vest." 

Such  suggestions  at  once  found  partisans,  and 
numbers  enlisted  in  bodies,  carrying  banners,  and 
calling  their  march  the  "  pilgrimage  of  Grace." 
They  first  attacked  Exeter,  but  the  inhabitants 
refused  to  join  them.  Finding,  however,  the  re- 
bellion serious,  Lord  Russell  was  sent  against 
them  and  routed  them.  The  Archbishop,  in  this 
affair,  commands  our  entire  reverence.  He  an- 
swered the  articles  of  their  petition  one  by  one, 
and  strongly  reminds  us  of  Luther's  reply  to  in- 
surgents on  another  occasion. 

"  Your  first  article,"  says  the  Archbishop, 
"begins  thus;    'We   will   have'.     Is  this  the 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  201 

fashion  of  subjects  to  speak  unto  their  Prince  ? 
Was  it  ever  before  used  since  the  beginning  of 
the  world  ?  "  He  then  appeals  to  them  as  house- 
holders, whether  they  would  suffer  their  servants 
and  retainers  to  come  to  them,  sword  in  hand, 
with  this  language  ;  We  will  have.  St.  Peter 
says,  c  Be  subject  unto  kings,'  &c  And  can  you 
think  it  meet  and  lawful  for  you  to  disobey  your 
undoubted  King  ;  being  a  Prince  most  innocent, 
most  godly,  and  most  careful  for  your  sorrow  and 
wealth  ?  If  any  thing  can  declare  disobedience, 
what  can  declare  it  more  than  subjects  to  come 
with  force  of  arms  to  their  natural  Prince  and 
King,  and  say,  c  This  we  will  have.'  " 

He  answers  all  their  articles  at  length,  and  in  a 
manner  which  discovers  great  knowledge  of  the 
genius  of  the  people.  His  calm,  judicious,  ener- 
getic arguments  produced  great  effect. 

Many  discourses  by  the  learned  men  of  the 
times  were  written  against  this  sedition.  Peter 
Martyr  and  Martin  Bucer  both  wrote.  The 
latter  had  sought  an  asylum  in  England  ;  by  Cran- 
mer's  particular  invitation,  he  resided  wholly  with 
the  Archbishop  as  long  as  he  lived. 

An  office  of  fasting  was  composed  for  this  re- 
bellion, and  then  the  following  prayer,  by  the 
Primate. 

u  O  Lord,  whose  goodness  far  exceedeth  our 
naughtiness,  and  whose  mercy  passeth  all  measure, 


202  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

we  confess  thy  judgment  to  be  most  just,  and 
that  we  worthily  have  deserved  this  rod,  where- 
with thou  hast  now  beaten  us.  We  have  offend- 
ed the  Lord  God  ;  we  have  lived  wickedly  ;  we 
have  gone  out  of  the  way  ;  we  have  not  heard 
thy  prophets  which  thou  hast  sent  unto  us  to  teach 
us  thy  Word,  nor  have  done  as  thou  hast  com- 
manded us.  Wherefore,  we  be  most  worthy  to 
suffer  all  the  plagues.  Thou  hast  done  justly, 
and  we  be  worthy  to  be  confounded.  But  we 
provoke  unto  thy  goodness  ;  we  appeal  unto  thy 
mercy  ;  we  humble  ourselves  ;  we  knowledge  our 
faults.  We  turn  to  Thee,  O  Lord,  with  our 
whole  hearts,  in  praying,  in  fasting,  in  lamenting, 
and  sorrowing  for  our  offences.  Have  mercy 
upon  us,  cast  us  not  away  according  to  our  de- 
serts, but  hear  us  and  deliver  us  with  speed,  and 
call  us  to  Thee  again,  according  to  thy  mercy  ; 
that  we,  with  one  consent  and  one  mind,  may 
ever  more  glorify  Thee,  world  without  end. 
Amen." 

It  was  in  the  spirit  of  this  prayer,  that  the 
Archbishop  sought  to  bring  over  the  discontented. 
But  we  think  he  failed  in  one  branch  of  wisdom 
which  Luther  particularly  understood  ; — admitting 
all  that  was  true  in  their  complaints,  and  thereby 
winning  their  confidence,  and  preparing  them 
gradually  for  a  better  state  of  mind.  Luther's 
object  was  to  make  the  people  reform  themselves; 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  203 

Cranmer's,  to  reform  them.  Luther  admitted  the 
wrongs  done  to  them  ;  Cranmer  carefully  avoids 
this  subject,  and  confines  himself  to  the  wrongs 
they  were  doing  the  King,  the  realm,  and  pure 
religion. 

Yet,  that  their  grievances  were  great,  we  can- 
not doubt.  "  The  rents  of  farms  were  raised, 
when  the  abbey-lands  were  distributed  among  the 
principal  nobility  and  courtiers,  while  the  tenants 
found  not  the  same  facility  in  disposing  of  the 
produce  ;  the  money  was  often  spent  in  the  capi- 
tal, and  the  farmers,  living  at  a  distance,  were 
exposed  to  oppression  from  their  new  masters,  or 
to  the  still  greater  rapacity  of  the  stewards."  * 
In  fact,  the  evils  that  the  Irish  have  suffered,  and 
are  still  suffering,  affected  at  that  time  the  realm 
of  England. 

Added  to  other  grievances,  was  the  luxury  of 
the  nobility,  and  men  of  overgrown  fortunes,  who 
could  afford  to  dismiss  the  poor  cottagers,  expel 
them  from  their  habitations,  pull  down  their 
houses,  and  enclose  the  grounds  for  parks,  tourna- 
ments, and  tilting  matches. 

Somerset  seems  to  have  felt  truly  the  rights  of 
the  people,  of  which  we  think  Cranmer  had  by 
no  means  a  just  conception.  He  appointed  com- 
missioners to  look  into  their  complaints,  and  gave 

*  Hume. 


204  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

them  power  to  redress  their  injuries.  This  meas- 
ure was  exceedingly  offensive  to  the  nobility, 
who  stigmatized  it  as  arbitrary  and  illegal,  as  a 
measure  for  increasing  the  popularity  of  the  Pro- 
tector, and  finally  went  so  far  as  to  declare,  that 
a  man  who  had  signed  the  death-warrant  for  his 
own  brother's  execution,  would  consider  usurpa- 
tion of  the  throne  a  slight  transgression. 

These  insurrections  were  soon  suppressed, 
though  in  Norfolk  they  for  a  time  wore  an  alarm- 
ing appearance.  A  tanner  by  the  name  of  Ket 
assumed  the  government,  —  a  bold,  daring,  un- 
principled man,  —  and,  by  his  appeal  to  the  pas- 
sions of  the  people,  collected  round  him  subjects 
to  the  amount  of  twenty  thousand.  He  at  first 
proposed  merely  the  suppression  of  the  gentry, 
and  placing  new  counsellors  about  the  King  ;  but 
in  a  short  time  he  determined  to  be  king  him- 
self. He  held  his  court  at  Mousehold-hill,  near 
Norwich,  under  an  old  oak,  (such  as  are  still  the 
pride  and  boast  of  England,)  whose  thick  and 
wide-branching  foliage  made  it  the  monarch  among 
trees.  It  was  afterwards  called  u  the  oak  of 
Reformation."  Here,  King  Ket  assembled  what 
he  called  the  gentry,  too  few  in  number  to  resist, 
and  gave  such  decrees  as  might  be  expected,  and 
which,  had  they  not  been  trembling  for  their  lives, 
would  have  excited  their  mirth.  The  Earl  of 
Warwick,  afterward    Duke  of  Northumberland, 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  205 

put  them  to  flight,  and  the  insurrection  was  com- 
pletely quelled. 

The  nobility  could  not  forgive  the  Protector 
for  a  general  pardon  which  he  now  granted,  against 
the  advice  of  the  Council.  They  were  of  opin- 
ion, that  it  was  better  to  keep  the  people  under 
the  lash. 

About  this  time  a  settlement  was  made  of  a 
controversy  which  had  long  existed  about  the  pro- 
nunciation of  Greek.  It  had  hitherto  been  pro- 
nounced like  English.  Gardiner,  who  was  ever 
ready  to  resist  innovations,  strongly  opposed  the 
reform.  At  length,  however,  it  was  carried,  and 
with  it  a  penalty  of  a  public  whipping  for  those 
who  did  not  adopt  the  true  Greek  pronunciation  ! 

Bonner,  Bishop  of  London,  was  another  op- 
poser  of  all  innovations.  Though  he  had  yielded 
partial  obedience,  it  was  evidently  against  his  in- 
clination. He  was  enjoined  by  the  Council  to 
deliver  a  sermon  setting  forth  particular  points, 
and,  among  the  rest,  it  was  thought  proper  to 
show,  that  "the  King  was  no  less  a  king  in  his 
minority,  than  when  he  was  of  full  age." 

The  first  of  September  was  the  day  appointed 
to  preach.  A  great  assembly  collected,  among 
them  Latimer  and  Hooper.  Bonner  touched 
lightly  on  the  points  enjoined,  and  dwelt  wholly 
on  the  sacrament,  asserting  the  reality  of  the  cor- 
poreal presence  ;  but  wholly  omitted  any  mention 


206  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

of  the  King,  probably  aware  that  in  so  doing,  he 
was  particularly  opposing  the  Archbishop,  whom 
he  most  cordially  disliked. 

When  an  account  was  brought  of  the  manner 
in  which  he  had  executed  his  orders,  full  authority 
was  given  to  Cranmer  and  Ridley,  with  others,  to 
summon  him  before  them,  and  "suspend,  im- 
prison, or  deprive  him,  as  they  saw  fit." 

On  the  tenth  of  the  month  he  was  summoned 
to  Lambeth.  The  commissioners,  with  Cranmer 
at  their  head,  were  waiting  to  receive  him.  He 
entered  the  court  where  they  sat,  with  a  careless, 
nonchalant  air,  and  walked  towards  a  window, 
affecting  not  to  see  them.  This,  no  doubt,  must 
have  astonished  the  august  body,  even  in  the  in- 
vincible Bonner.  Some  one,  however,  pulled 
him  by  the  sleeve,  and  reminded  him  that  the 
commissioners  were  present,  at  which  he  took  off 
his  cap,  and  said,  slightingly,  "  I  cry  you  mercy, 
my  Lords  ;  I  had  not  observed  you." 

They  immediately  proceeded  to  inform  him 
of  what  he  was  accused,  that  is,  of  not  speaking 
of  the  King  ;  for  nothing  else  was  actionable. 

"My  mind,"  said  he,  "  was  filled  with  the  im- 
portant understanding  of  the  mass  ;  but  I  think  I 
neglected  nothing  of  importance  that  was  en- 
joined." 

The  witnesses  were  then  brought,  and  deposed 
against  him. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  207 

"  Noble  Sirs,"  said  he,  meaning  the  witnesses, 
the  venerable  Bishops  Latimer  and  Hooper, 
"your  testimony  I  deny.  One  talks  like  a  wood- 
cock, and  the  other  like  a  goose." 

The  Archbishop,  who  seems  never  to  have 
suffered  his  indignation  to  get  the  mastery,  asked 
him,  "if  he  was  willing  to  refer  the  matter  in 
proof  to  the  people  who  heard  him  ;  "  and  then, 
turning  to  many  who  were  collected,  asked  them, 
"whether  they  heard  him  speak  of  the  King's 
authority  when  under  age." 

Many  voices  replied,  "No,  no." 

Bonner  looked  round  at  them  with  supreme 
contempt,  and  said,  laughing,  "Will  you  believe 
this  fond  people  ?  these  dunces  and  fools  ?  " 

As  he  behaved  more  like  a  madman  than  a 
Bishop,  they  postponed  the  trial  to  the  next  day. 

Bonner,  when  again  before  them,  did  not  ap- 
pear to  have  improved  in  manners,  though  there 
was  much  argument  on  both  sides.  He  said,  that 
he  had  "  forgotten  to  mention  the  King."  He 
read  passages  out  of  a  book  of  Hooper's,  calling 
the  venerable  man  "  that  varlet."  He  then  turn- 
ed to  address  the  people,  and  was  interrupted  by 
one  of  the  delegates,  who  told  him  he  was  to 
speak  to  them,  and  not  to  the  people ;  at  which 
he  hastily  turned  round,  saying  between  his  teeth, 
"  Woodcocks  !  woodcocks  !  "  He  constantly 
evaded    any    direct    answer.      Cranmer   admon- 


208  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ished  him  for  his  irreverence,  and  told  him  that  it 
was  not  justifiable  to  call  his  judges  "  pretended 
judges,"  which  he  always  did. 

Bonner  told  Sir  Thomas  Smith,  that  "  as  Sec- 
retary of  State  and  Privy-Councillor  he  honored 
him  ;  but,  as  Sir  Thomas  Smith,  he  did  not  hes- 
itate to  tell  him  he  lied,  and  to  defy  him." 

At  this  the  Archbishop  told  him,  that  "  such 
language  was  inexcusable,  and  he  deserved  to  be 
sent  to  prison  for  using  it." 

Bonner  scoffingly  replied,  "that  he  did  not 
care  where  they  sent  him,  so  they  sent  him  not  to 
the  devil  ;  for  thither  he  would  not  go.  He  had 
a  few  goods,  a  poor  carcass,  and  a  soul  ;  the  two 
former  were  in  their  power,  but  the  last  was  his 


own.': 


After  a  long  and  minute  trial,  Bonner  was  com- 
mitted to  prison.  His  trial  is  given  at  length  in 
the  "  State  Trials." 

We  come  now  to  an  event  that  caused  the 
young  King  and  Cranmer  much  anguish.  It  be- 
came evident  that  the  Protector  had  many  ene- 
mies. The  Earl  of  Warwick,  who  had  been 
raised  by  the  favor  of  Somerset,  was  made  an  in- 
strument in  the  hands  of  the  Earl  of  Southampton 
for  exciting  great  complaints  against  him  ;  that 
the  Protector  had  begun  to  build  a  noble  palace 
in  the  Strand,  "  out  of  the  ruins  of  bishops' 
houses  ;  and   that,  while    the    kingdom    was  en- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  209 

gaged  in  expensive  wars,  and  London  infected 
with  the  plague,  he  was  bringing  architects  from 
Italy,  and  designing  %uch  a  palace  as  had  not 
been  seen  in  England.''  These,  and  many  other 
accusations,  were  brought  against  him  by  the  no- 
bles, in  whose  hands  was  all  power.  His  ene- 
mies rapidly  increased,  and  Cranmer,  with  Paget 
and  Secretary  Smith,  alone  stood  his  friends. 

It  was  now,  that  the  friends  of  his  unfortunate 
brother  took  the  opportunity  to  wreak  their  re- 
venge. It  is  sad,  that  so  heavy  a  charge  as  sign- 
ing the  death-warrant  could  be  laid  to  him  ;  and 
it  was  one  that  he  could  not  gainsay.  The  Pro- 
tector was  with  the  King  at  this  time,  and  of  this 
circumstance  they  made  a  handle,  protesting  that 
he  meant  to  get  his  person  into  custody. 

There  is  little  doubt  that  the  Protector  might 
have  had  the  support  of  the  people,  had  he  called 
for  it,  and  raised  a  numerous  army.  But,  when 
he  saw  the  nobles  and  Council  all  against  him, 
with  the  exception  of  Cranmer  and  Paget,  he 
submitted  at  once,  and  only  stipulated  for  gentle 
treatment.  He  was,  however,  sent  to  the  Tower, 
with  Cecil.  He  confessed,  while  there,  the  arti- 
cles charged  against  him,  but  imputed  his  miscon- 
duct to  folly  and  indiscretion,  and  not  to  any  bad 
intentions.  The  Parliament  deprived  him  of  all 
his  offices,  and  fined  him  two  thousand  pounds  a 
year.     The  King  does  not  appear  to  have  taken 

14 


210  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

any  part  in  his  disgrace  ;  on  the  contrary,  he  im- 
mediately remitted  the  fine. 

Somerset  bore  his  fall  so  meekly,  that  he  seems 
to  have  mollified  his  most  powerful  enemy,  the 
Earl  of  Warwick.  He  readmitted  him  to  the 
Council,  and  even  agreed  to  an  alliance  be- 
tween his  son  and  a  daughter  of  Somerset's. 

Warwick  procured  to  himself  a  grant  of  lands 
which  lay  in  the  north,  and  was  dignified  with  the 
title  of  Duke  of  Northumberland.  It  might  have 
been  supposed,  that  the  alliance  which  had  taken 
place  between  his  son  and  Somerset's  daughter 
might  have  secured  his  friendship.  He  could 
not,  however,  pardon  him  the  favor  he  still  en- 
joyed with  the  people,  and  the  fondness  the  King 
cherished  for  him.  He  placed  spies  about  him, 
and  had  him  arrested  for  treason  and  felony.  Of 
treason,  he  was  fully  acquitted  ;  but  was  con- 
demned for  felony,  on  the  score  of  idle  words  he 
had  spoken.  The  people  hearing  the  first  part 
of  the  sentence  of  acquittal,  expressed  their  joy 
by  loud  acclamations  ;  but  a  general  groan  was 
heard  when  they  found  he  was  condemned  for 
felony. 

During  this  time  the  King  was  kept  in  igno- 
rance of  the  state  of  things  ;  those  who  would 
have  informed  him  were  not  allowed  to  have  ac- 
cess to  him,  and  a  constant  course  of  amusements 
was  devised  for  him. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  211 

At  the  place  of  execution,  Sir  Anthony  Brown 
was  seen  hastily  riding  towards  the  scaffold.  It 
was  supposed  he  had  come  with  a  pardon  from 
the  King,  which  had  all  along  been  expected  by 
the  people,  "  and  therefore  with  great  rejoicing 
and  casting  up  of  caps,  they  cried  out,  '  Pardon, 
pardon  is  come  !  God  save  the  King  !  '  " 

"  Thus  this  good  Duke,"  continues  the  narra- 
tor, "  although  he  was  destitute  of  all  men's  help, 
yet  he  saw,  before  his  departure,  in  how  great 
love  and  favor  he  was  with  all  men.  And  truly, 
I  do  not  think  in  so  great  slaughter  of  Dukes  as 
there  has  been  in  England  within  this  few  years, 
there  were  so  many  eyes  weeping  at  the  same 
time." 

The  Duke  made  a  sign  to  the  people  to  be 
quiet,  and  then,  in  a  resigned  but  cheerful  voice, 
addressed  them,  closing  his  address  with  beseech- 
ing them  to  keep  quiet  and  still,  lest,  through  their 
tumult,  they  might  trouble  him  ;  for,  "albeit  the 
spirit  be  willing  and  ready,  the  flesh  is  frail  and 
wavering." 

He  prepared  for  the  stroke  of  the  executioner 
with  much  calmness,  untying  his  neckcloth  and 
laying  his  head  upon  the  block,  calling  thrice  up- 
on the  name  of  Jesus,  "  Lord  Jesus,  save  me  !  " 
The  third  time,  the  sentence  was  left  unfinished, 
—  the  axe  fell  ! 

The  people  rushed  forward  and  dipped  their 


212  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

handkerchiefs  in  his  blood,  and  preserved  them  as 
relics.  Whatever  were  his  faults,  he  fell  a  sac- 
rifice to  the  ambition  of  his  rival,  Northumber- 
land. 

After  Bonner  was  committed  to  the  Tower 
and  deprived  of  his  See,  Ridley  succeeded  him 
as  Bishop  of  London.  His  conduct  towards  the 
dependants  of  Bonner  was  truly  amiable.  As  he 
took  possession  of  the  same  house,  he  was  ex- 
tremely careful  not  to  do  the  least  injury  to  his 
predecessor's  goods.  He  even  paid  wages  to  the 
servants  that  were  in  arrears.  He  treated  the 
mother,  Mrs.  Bonner,  with  the  greatest  respect, 
and  welcomed  her  to  the  upper  seat  at  his  table, 
as  if  she  had  been  his  own  mother,  saying,  when 
he  had  guests,  "  By  your  Lordships'  favor,  this 
place  of  right  and  custom  is  for  my  mother  Bon- 
ner." 

The  young  King  was  now  transferred  to  Nor- 
thumberland, who  succeeded  Somerset  in  all  his 
honors,  but  his  health  was  visibly  declining.  In 
his  journal  we  find  an  entry  of  his  having  the 
small-pox  and  measles,  disorders  often  fatal  to 
feeble  constitutions.  Still,  however,  he  continu- 
ed his  studies,  writing  perhaps  much  more  than 
was  for  the  good  of  his  health,  as  has  been  proved 
by  the  many  manuscripts  he  left  in  his  own  hand, 
and  which  are  entitled,  "  King  Edward's  Re- 
mains." 


CEANMER    AND    HIS   TIMES.  213 

From  the  time  of  Somerset's  death,  his  health 
had  drooped,  and  this  gave  rise  to  many  idle  re- 
ports of  slow  poison   being  administered   by  the 
ambitious  Northumberland.    But  the  Archbishop, 
who   was    more    interested  than   any  one  in   the 
King,  and  had  no  love  to  the  Duke,  whom  he 
considered  the  cause  of  Somerset's  death,  gave 
no  heed  to  them.      He   had  too    long   seen   the 
seeds  of  decay  in    the   constitution  of   Edward, 
and  felt  that  the  power  of  God  alone  could  stay 
it.     Northumberland    took    much  pains  to  with- 
draw the  King  from   the  immediate  influence  of 
the  Archbishop,  and,  under   pretence   of  change 
of  air,  removed  him  from  place  to  place.     Ed- 
ward alludes  to  this  in  his  journal,  but  makes  no 
personal    remarks    upon    Northumberland.      We 
also  find   that    the    celebrated    John   Knox,  the 
itinerant  Scotch  preacher,  was  appointed  chaplain 
to  Edward.     Probably  his  vehement  and  power- 
ful style  of  oratory  had  won  upon  the  devotional 
feelings  of  the  young  King.     He  was  offered  a 
bishopric,  but   declined  it  peremptorily,  and  de- 
clared himself  entirely  opposed  to  the  Liturgy  and 
established  form  of  episcopacy. 

As  the  journal  of  the  King  is  merely  a  relation 
of  facts,  it  may  only  serve  as  an  evidence  of  his 
industry  and  modesty,  for  no  mention  is  ever 
made   of    honor  paid    to    himself.     For  written 


214  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

proofs  of  the  extraordinary  maturity  of  his  mind, 
we  must  look  among  what  is  called  his  u  Re- 
mains." Some  of  these  are  to  be  found  in  the 
Appendix  to  Strype's  "Memorials  of  Cranmer," 
and  others  in  Burnet's  Documents. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  215 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

The  most  remarkable  performance  of  the 
King,  in  his  own  handwriting,  is,  "  A  Discourse 
about  many  Abuses."  From  this  we  shall  select 
a  few  passages.  The  first  part  is  upon  the  eccle- 
siastical government  of  the  realm.  The  second, 
upon  the  "  Temporal  Regiment." 

"  The  temporal  regiment  consisteth  in  well- 
ordering,  enriching,  and  defending  the  whole  body- 
politic  of  the  commonwealth,  and  every  part  of 
the  whole,  to  one  part  not  the  other.  The  ex- 
ample whereof  may  be  best  taken  of  a  man's 
body  ;  for  even  as  the  arm  defendeth,  helpeth, 
and  aideth  the  whole  body,  chiefly  the  head,  so 
ought  servingmen  and  gentlemen  chiefly,  and  such 
like  kind  of  people,  be  always  ready  in  defence 
of  their  country." 

He  then  goes  on  with  the  comparison,  and 
makes  out  the  analogy  with  great  exactness. 

"  Furthermore,  no  member  in  a  well-fashioned 
and  whole  body,  is  too  big  for  the  proportion  of 
the  body,  so  must  there  be  in  a  well-ordered 
commonwealth,  no  person  that  shall  have  more 


216  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

than  the  proportion  the  country  will  bear  ;  so  it 
is  hurtful  immediately  to  enrich  any  one  part." 

He  then  goes  on  to  show,  that  u  every  man 
ought  to  labor  in  his  vocation  to  support  the  body, 
and  to  see  that  order,  moderation,  and  reason  bri- 
dle the  affections." 

He  speaks  of  the  abuses  which  have  taken 
place. 

"  The  artificers  work  falsely  ;  the  clothiers 
use  deceit  in  cloth  ;  the  masons  in  building  ;  the 
clockmakers  in  their  clocks ;  the  joiner  in  his 
working  of  timber,  &c.  ;  all  others  almost,  to  the 
intent  they  would  have  them  oftener  come  to 
them  for  amending  their  things." 

•  •  •  •  • 

"  The  grazier,  the  farmer,  the  merchant,  be- 
come landed  men  and  call  themselves  gentlemen, 
though  they  be  churls  ;  yea,  the  farmer  will  have 
ten  farms,  some  twenty,  and  will  be  a  pedler- 
merchant." 

Then  comes  a  record  of  various  abuses.  After 
speaking  of  those  that  forestall  the  market,  he 
says  ; 

"  What  shall  I  say  of  those  that  buy  and  sell 
offices  of  trust,  that  impropriate  benefices,  that 
destroy  timber  ;  that,  not  considering  the  sustain- 
ing of  them  in  their  barn,  turn  till-ground  to 
pasture  ;  that  use  excess  in  apparel,  in  diet,  and 
in  building  of  inclosures  of  wastes  and  commons  ; 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  217 

of  those  that  cast  false  and  seditious  bills  ;  but 
that  the  thing  is  so  tedious,  long,  and  lamentable, 
that  I  am  weary  to  go  any  further  in  the  particu- 
lars ;  wherefore  I  will  cease,  having  told  the 
worst,  because  the  best  will  save  itself." 

An  enumeration  then  follows  of  the  various 
causes  of  dissatisfaction  which  he  has  before  men- 
tioned. 

"  These  sores  must  be  cured  with  these  medi- 
cines or  plaisters  :  1.  Good  Education.  2.  De- 
vising of  good  laws.  3.  Executing  the  laws 
justly,  without  respect  of  persons.  4.  Example 
of  rulers.  5.  Punishing  of  vagabonds  and  idle 
persons.  6.  Encouraging  the  good.  7.  Order- 
ing well  the  customers.  8.  Engendering  friend- 
ship in  all  parts  of  the  Commonwealth.  These 
be  the  chief  points  that  tend  to  order  well  the 
whole  Commonwealth. 

"  And  for  the  first  (good  education),  as  it  is 
in  order  first,  so  it  seemeth  to  be  in  dignity  and 
degree  ;  for  Horace  saith  very  wisely, 

'Quo  semel  est  imbuta  recens,  servabit  odorem 
Testa  diu.' 

With  whatsoever  thing  the  new  vessel  is  im- 
bued, it  will  long  keep  the  savour,  saith  Horace  ; 
meaning,  that  for  the  most  part,  men  be  as  they 
be  brought  up.  Wherefore,  seeing  that  it  seem- 
eth so  necessary  a  thing,  we  will  shew  our  device 
herein.      Youth   must   be  brought   up,  some  in 


218  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

husbandry,  some  in  working,  graving,  gilding, 
joining,  printing,  making  of  clothes,  even  from 
their  most  tender  age,  to  the  end  that  they  may 
not,  when  they  come  to  man's  estate,  loiter  as 
they  do  now-a-days,  and  neglect,  but  think  their 
travail  sweet  and  honest." 

"Nevertheless,  when  all  these  laws  be  made, 
established,  and  enacted,  they  serve  to  no  pur- 
pose, except  they  be  fully  and  duly  executed. 
By  whom  ?  By  those  that  have  authority  to  ex- 
ecute ;  that  is  to  say,  the  Noblemen  and  Justices 
of  Peace.  Wherefore,  I  would  wish,  that  after 
this  Parliament  were  ended,  those  Noblemen, 
except  a  few  that  should  be  with  me,  went  to 
their  counties,  and  there  should  see  the  statutes 
fully  and  duly  executed,  and  that  those  men 
should  be  put  from  being  Justices  of  Peace,  that 
be  touched  or  blotted  with  those  vices  that  be 
against  these  new  laws  to  be  established  ;  for  no 
man  that  is  in  fault  himself  can  punish  another  for 
the  same  offence. 

*  Turpe  est  doctori,  cum  culpa  redarguit  ipsum.' 

The  justices  being  put  out,  the  laws  will  be  exe- 
cuted   ."     Desunt  ccetera. 

Edward,  like  other  Kings,  had  his  favorite, 
Baralse  Fitz  Patrick.  He  was  a  boy  near  his  own 
age,  and  Burnet  says,  his  whipping-boy,  "  who 
(according  to  the  rule  of  educating  our  Princes,) 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMER.  219 

was  always  to  be  whipped  for  the  King's  faults." 
Edward  was  of  too  gentle   and  just  a  nature  to 
approve  of  this  mode  of  tuition.     He  early  form- 
ed an  attachment  to  him,  and  sent  him  to  France 
to  be  educated.     While  he  was  there,  the  young 
King  wrote  to  him  constantly,  giving  him  counsel 
and  advice.     In  one  of  his  letters  he  writes,  that 
"  he  must  not  think  to  live  like  an  ambassador, 
but  like  a  private  gentleman,  whose  fortunes  were 
to  be  gradually  advanced  as  he  deserved."     He 
allowed  him  four  servants,  and  charged  him  "  to 
devote  his  time  to  useful  observation  ;  to  associ- 
ate with  gentlemen,  rather  than  ladies  ;  to  be  sim- 
ple in  his   apparel  ;  to  observe  well  the  conduct 
of  armies,  and  the  fortification  of  strong  places  ; 
to  note  what  was  observable  and  praiseworthy  in 
the  customs  and  manners  of  the  nation,  and  what 
might  profit  his  own  country  on  his  return."      He 
also  desired  him  "  to  let  him  know  when  he  need- 
ed money,  and  he  would  supply  him." 

All  these  directions,  and  many  others,  the  King 
wrote  with  his  own  hand  ;  and,  when  the  young 
man  returned,  to  let  him  see  that  he  meant  to  ad- 
minister to  no  superfluous  wants  or  useless  luxu- 
ries, gave  him  only  a  pension  of  one  hundred  and 
fifty  pounds  ;  a  small  allowance  for  the  favorite 
of  a  King. 

That  Edward  chose  his  favorites  for  the  virtues 
of  simplicity,  integrity,  and  correctness,  the  future 


220  CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

life  of  Fitz  Patrick  proved.  When  deprived  of 
his  royal  friend,  he  devoted  himself  to  study  and 
the  arts,  always  making  it  his  great  object  to  jus- 
tify by  his  good  conduct  the  early  prepossessions 
of  the  King. 

Edward  had  written  to,  and  received  many  let- 
ters from,  his  rebellious  sister  Mary,  who  had 
persisted  in  observing  the  Catholic  forms.  These 
letters  show  mutual  good  will  ;  but  Edward's 
unite  such  a  fervent  zeal  for  the  reformed  religion, 
with  so  much  brotherly  regard,  that  we  see  the 
inward  struggle  of  his  mind.  As  a  king,  he  con- 
jures her  not  to  set  an  ill  example  to  the  sub- 
jects of  the  realm  ;  as  a  brother,  not  to  oblige 
him  to  proceed  to  extremities  ;  and  calls  upon  her, 
as  an  elder  sister,  to  aid  him  in  his  duty.  He 
endeavoured  by  argument  to  convince  her  of  her 
errors  ;  and  "  talked  so  learnedly  on  the  subject 
with  her  Bishops,  that  they  were  amazed,  he 
bringing  texts  of  Scripture  to  support  his  argu- 
ments, and  showing  an  accurate  and  thorough  ac- 
quaintance with  the  Bible." 

The  tenderness  and  compassion  of  his  nature 
were  traits  that  he  particularly  inherited  from  his 
mother,  and  were  what  gave  rise  to  the  observa- 
tion, that  one  "  phoenix  had  risen  from  the  ashes 
of  another." 

The  great  opposition  he  made  to  taking  away 
the  life  of  heretics  was  a  matter  of  religion  as 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  221 

well  as  mercy.  When  urged  by  Cranmer  to  sign 
the  warrant  for  Joan  of  Kent's  death,  the  only 
argument  which  finally  prevailed  with  him  was, 
that  the  responsibility  would  fall  upon  the  Arch- 
bishop. No  doubt  this  idea  operated  in  soothing 
his  distress.  He  constantly  asked,  "if  heresy 
were  so  great  a  crime,  how  he  could  answer  it  to 
his  conscience  to  send  her  into  the  presence  of 
her  Maker  with  the  crime  unrepented  of.':  Cran- 
mer said,  "  he  would  be  answerable  "  ;  and  this, 
probably,  was  a  double  relief  to  Edward,  both  for 
Joan  and  himself.  Joan's  guilt  was  in  no  way 
aggravated  by  her  execution.  If  to  go  thus  un- 
prepared into  the  presence  of  her  Maker  was  an 
added  sin,  it  was  the  sin  of  those  who  sent  her  ; 
and  Cranmer  had  said,  it  should  be  his  ! 

It  cannot  be  doubted  that  the  Archbishop  acted 
conscientiously,  with  the  erroneous  and  bigoted 
views  of  the  time.  No  motive  but  zeal  for  the 
truth  could  have  influenced  him,  and  his  earnest 
desire  to  make  her  renounce  her  heresy  is  con- 
sistent with  the  benevolence  of  his  character. 

A  striking  trait  in  Edward  was  his  punctuality. 
He  was  as  careful  of  other  people's  time  as  of 
his  own.  He  considered  time  as  equally  the 
property  of  all  ;  he  had  no  more  right  to  squander 
his  poorest  subject's  than  his  own.  In  his  journal 
he  discovers  the  strictest  care  to  pay  small,  as 
well  as  large  debts,  knowing  that  a  Prince's  credit 


222  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

is  even  more  important  than  that  of  private  indi- 
viduals. 

Such  a  character  as  Edward's  could  not  be 
misunderstood,  even  at  that  period,  though  he 
was,  in  all  moral  endowments,  in  advance  of  the 
time.  Much  pains  were  taken  to  keep  him  igno- 
rant of  events  that  wTere  passing,  particularly  the 
details  of  Somerset's  trial.*  Cranmer  might  have 
been  said  to  look  upon  him  with  reverence,  as  well 
as  love.  He  one  day  took  his  preceptor,  Dr. 
Chek,  by  the  hand,  and  told  him  he  "had  reason, 
all  the  days  of  his  life,  to  rejoice  that  God  had 
given  him  such  a  pupil."  His  "  report  of  the 
King's  towardliness  to  the  Archbishop"  is  copied 
from  the  "  Memorials  of  Fox." 

The  nation  considered  him  as  one  raised  up  by 

*  One  of  the  circumstances  that  diverted  Edward's 
mind  from  the  fate  of  his  uncle,  was  the  presence  of  a 
royal  visitorx  about  the  time  Somerset  was  accused.  He 
gives  an  account  in  his  journal  of  the  arrival  of  the 
Queen  Dowager  of  Scotland.  She  had  been  to  France, 
to  convey  her  unfortunate  daughter  Mary,  and,  on  her 
return,  put  in  at  Portsmouth.  At  the  request  of  Henry 
of  France,  she  obtained  permission  to  continue  her  jour- 
ney by  land.  Edward  could  feel  no  great  complacency 
towards  her ;  but  he  performed  the  duties  of  hospitality 
with  his  native  courtesy.  "  Her  lodging,"  Edward  writes 
in  his  journal,  "  was  all  hanged  with  arras,  and  so  was 
the  hall  and  all  the  other  lodgings  of  mine  house  at 
Southampton  very  finely  dressed ;  and  for  this  night  and 
the  next  day,  all  was  spent  in  dancing  and  pastime,  as 


CRAxNMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  223 

God  for  extraordinary  purposes  ;  but  these  were 
not  to  be  accomplished  on  earth.  To  many- 
minds,  the  strongest  evidence  of  another  life  is 
afforded  by  the  promise  of  excellence  early  sum- 
moned hence.  The  employments  of  the  blessed 
are  more  clearly  brought  to  view,  and  the  charac- 
ter of  that  heaven  designated,  to  which  they  are 
called.  Few  who  understand  the  power  of  in- 
tellect and  virtue,  and  comprehend  the  deathless 
evidence  they  give  of  future  progression,  can,  for 
a  moment  believe,  that  this  existence  is  the  end 
of  life. 

Northumberland  seems  to  have  effectually 
spread  his  toils  around  the  King.  The  nation 
murmured,   that   one,  whom   they  did  not   love, 

though  it  were  a  court,  and  great  presence  of  gentlemen 
resorted  there." 

She  was  then  conducted  to  Westminster  by  a  large 
number  of  lords  and  ladies.  "  The  court,  the  hall,  and 
the  stairs,"  continues  Edward  in  his  journal,  "  were  full 
of  serving  men ;  the  Presence  Chamber,  the  Great  Cham- 
ber, and  her  Presence  Chamber,  full  of  gentlemen.  And, 
so  having  brought  her  to  her  chamber,  I  retired  to  mine. 
I  went  to  her  at  dinner  ;  she  dined  under  the  same  cloth 
of  state  at  my  right  hand  ;  at  her  rere-ward  dined  my 
cousin  Frances  and  my  cousin  Margaret.  At  mine,  sat 
the  French  ambassador.  We  were  served  by  two  servi- 
ces, two  sewers,  two  cupbearers,  carvers,  and  gentlemen. 
Her  Master-Hostel  came  before  her  service,  and  my  offi- 
cers before  mine.  There  were  two  cupboards,  one  of 
gold,  four  stages  high,  and  another  of  massy  silver,  six 


224  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

should  have  their  most  precious  jewel  in  his  keep- 
ing. Edward  seems  to  have  acquiesced  in  every 
journey,  or  M  progress,"  as  such  excursions  are 
often  styled.  His  cousin,  Lady  Jane  Gray,  was 
frequently  his  companion.  She  was  the  wife  of 
Lord  Dudley,  the  son  of  Northumberland,  and 
daughter  of  Suffolk.  The  beauty  and  graces  of 
her  Christian  character  are  well  known,  and  Ed- 
ward found  comfort  and  strength  in  her  conversa- 
tion. Others  were  placed  about  him  by  the  arbi- 
trary Duke,  that  were  less  congenial  to  his  charac- 
ter ;  and  those,  who  were  excluded  or  dismissed, 
did  not  hesitate  secretly  to  disseminate  suspicions 
that  the  Earl  harboured  designs  against  the  life  of 
the  King. 

stages  high.  [It  is  presumed  shelves  are  meant.]  In  her 
great  chamber  dined  at  three  boards  the  ladies  only.  Af- 
ter dinner,  when  she  had  heard  some  music,  I  brought  her 
to  the  hall,  and  so  she  went  away." 

The  King  mentions  sending  her  a  diamond  ring  as  a 
present,  before  her  departure.  We  must  remember,  that 
it  is  from  a  youth  of  fifteen  we  have  these  simple  narra- 
tions. 

This  Queen  was  the  eldest  sister  of  Henry  the  Eighth 
of  England.  He  does  not  mention  her  or  her  heirs  under 
any  circumstances,  as  successors  to  the  throne  ;  but,  after 
his  death,  Mary,  who  was  then  married  to  the  Dauphin 
Francis  the  Second,  laid  claim  to  the  crown,  instigated  by 
her  uncles,  the  Guises.  This  claim  cost  her  her  liberty 
and  life  in  succeeding  years.  See  Robertson's  "  History 
of  Scotland." 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  225 

But  a  more  invincible  enemy  than  Northumber- 
land was  attacking  the  vital  powers  of  Edward. 
Of  this  there  were  fearful  indications  in  the  almost 
supernatural  brightness  of  his  eye,  the  hectic  of 
his  cheek,  and  his  short  and  rapid  manner  of 
breathing.  Yet  at  times  he  seemed  to  cast  off 
all  debility,  and  his  spirit,  lightened  of  its  load, 
gave  deceptive  promises  of  health.  Sometimes 
the  princely  boy  would  spring  from  his  couch,  and 
gaze  on  the  fair  realm  around  him  with  a  sanguine 
feeling,  that  he  should  yet  live  to  govern  it. 

And  could  there  not  be  found  one  in  all  this 
wide  domain  to  rescue  its  youthful  monarch  from 
an  early  grave  ?  Where  were  the  united  claims 
of  Lancaster  and  York  ?  Where  the  nobles  of 
the  land  ?  The  Parliament,  too,  who  found  it  so 
easy  to  sign  a  warrant  of  death,  could  they  not  sign 
one  of  life  ?  Of  all  the  flatterers,  who  had  sur- 
rounded him,  and  who  had  cried  "  God  save  the 
King  !  "  was  there  none  to  avert  the  blow  ?  Sey- 
mour and  Somerset  had  contended  for  his  favor, 
and,  ere  the  struggle  was  ended,  had  trod  the  dark 
valley  of  death.  Northumberland  was  yet  bow- 
ing the  knee,  and  successfully  excluding  from  the 
royal  presence  all  rivals.  But  there  was  one  en- 
emy more  powerful,  more  vigilant  than  the  Earl ; 
one,  whose  icy  hand  was  outstretched,  and  who 
laughed  to  scorn  all  human  efforts.  To  him  the 
bribes  of  countless  wealth  were  nothing.  Slowly 
15 


226  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

and  noiselessly  he  came,  but  not  so  stealthily  as 
to  deceive  Edward.  He  saw  his  approach  with 
an  undaunted  eye,  for  he  knew  that  death  could 
only  open  the  portals  to  immortal  life  ;  and,  be- 
yond, he  beheld  w  flowery  vales  and  dewy 
meads,"  inviting  his  ''fainting  steps." 

Cranmer  sometimes  was  summoned  to  him,  and 
then  he  left  all  his  occupations  to  sit  by  the  side 
of  the  beloved  one,  to  hold  his  emaciated  hand, 
and  wipe  the  cold  dew  from  his  forehead.  It 
was  on  one  of  these  occasions,  that  Edward  spoke 
much  of  the  welfare  of  the  realm,  and  expressed 
his  fears  that  the  Catholic  religion  would  be  re- 
vived under  the  succession  of  Mary. 

The  entrance  of  Northumberland  interrupted 
the  conversation  ;  (indeed,  the  Archbishop  was 
seldom  suffered  to  be  alone  with  him  ;)  he  was 
accompanied  by  Lord  Darcy.  Edward,  how- 
ever, resumed  it,  and  said  to  the  Archbishop, 
that  he  "  thought  it  his  duty  to  secure  the  suc- 
cession of  the  crown  to  one  who  would  promote 
the  cause  of  true  religion." 

Cranmer  immediately  replied,  that  he  "  knew 
not  how  the  succession  of  Mary  could  be  set 
aside,  and  Elizabeth  preferred." 

"Neither  do  I,"  said  Edward. 

Northumberland  hurried  the  Archbishop  away, 
on  pretence  of  the  King's  being  fatigued.  The 
subject,  however,  was  soon  taken  up  again,  and 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  227 

Cranmer  found  that  Lady  Jane  Gray,  in  right  of 
her  mother,  the  Duchess  of  Suffolk,  was  to  be 
the  successor  to  the  throne.  The  Archbishop 
warmly  opposed  this  determination  of  the  King, 
and  requested  leave  to  argue  with  him  alone, 
which  Northumberland  refused,  probably  knowing 
that  Cranmer  might  turn  the  scales  against  him. 
"  Truly,  my  Lord  of  Canterbury,"  said  he  arro- 
gantly in  the  Council  Chamber,  "it  does  not  be- 
come you  to  speak  to  the  King  as  if  he  were  yet 
a  child,  and  dissuade  him  from  his  will." 

The  Archbishop  argued  with  the  Council  the 
entailing  of  the  crown  by  King  Henry  the  Eighth, 
and  earnestly  declared,  that  he  could  not  sign  an 
act  which  was  contrary  to  his  will  and  would  ren- 
der his  daughter  illegitimate. 

The  Council  replied,  "  that  it  was  the  opinion 
of  the  judges  and  the  King's  learned  counsel  in 
the  law,  that  that  entailing  had  nothing  to  do  with 
the  present  King  ;  that  he,  c  being  in  possession 
of  the  crown,  had  the  same  right,  as  his  father,  of 
disposing  of  it  as  he  thought  best  for  the  realm, 
and  to  convey  it,  if  he  so  pleased,  to  Lady  Jane 
Gray  by  deed.'  " 

The  Archbishop  said,  "this  seemed  most 
strange  to  him  ;  yet,  considering  it  was  the  judg- 
ment of  the  lawyers,  and  he  himself  wholly  un- 
learned in  the  law,  he  thought  it  not  seemly  to 
oppose  this  matter  further ;  but,  for  his  own  part, 


228  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

as  his  conscience  was  against  the  matter,  he  must 
decline  signing." 

Who,  that  has  followed  the  Archbishop  through 
his  life,  will  not  tremble  for  his  firmness  ?  Who 
will  not  already  see  his  hand  grasp  the  pen,  and 
his  name  affixed  to  the  deed. 

The  Council,  however,  and  the  chief  judges, 
proceeded  to  set  their  names  to  the  letters  patent, 
in  deed  of  the  King.  And  when  they  had  all 
done  it,  they  sent  for  Cranmer,  who  had  absented 
himself,  and  required  him  to  sign. 

The  Archbishop  answered,  that  he  "might  not 
do  it  without  perjury  ;  for  he  had  sworn  to  King 
Henry's  will,  acknowledging  the  Lady  Mary  as 
Edward's  successor." 

"  The  Council  replied,  that  "  they  had  con- 
sciences as  well  as  he,  and  had  also  sworn  to 
Henry's  will." 

The  Archbishop  answered,  "I  am  no  judge 
over  any  man's  conscience,  but  mine  own  only  ; 
for,  as  I  will  not  condemn  your  fact,  no  more  will 
I  stay  my  fact  upon  your  conscience,  seeing  that 
every  man  shall  answer  to  God  for  his  own  deeds, 
and  not  for  other  men's." 

They  still  pressed  him  with  further  argument 
and  persuasion,  representing  the  distressed  state 
of  the  realm,  and  the  subversion  of  all  true  reli- 
gion, upon  the  accession  of  a  Popish  Queen. 
They  probably  saw  the  gradual  yielding  of  his 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  229 

mind  ;  for,  when  he   desired  to   speak  with  the 
King  alone,  Northumberland  consented. 

He  found  Edward  reclining  on  his  couch,  his 
books  near  him,  and  his  lute,  upon  which  he  ex- 
celled, laying  by  his  side.  He  could  no  longer 
touch  it  with  a  master's  hand  !  When  the  Arch- 
bishop entered,  he  arose  and  received  him  with 
his  wonted  affection,  spoke  calmly  of  his  ap- 
proaching end,  and  then  immediately  recurred  to 
the  subject  nearest  his  heart,  — the  succession  of 
his  cousin  Jane. 

"  I  have  not  proceeded  rashly  in  this  matter," 
said  Edward  ;  "  I  have  consulted  the  most  learn- 
ed judges,  and  they  inform  me,  that  I  may  lawful- 
ly bequeath  the  crown  to  the  Lady  Jane." 

The  Archbishop  replied,  as  he  had  done  to  the 
Council,  "  that  few  men  could  be  more  ignorant 
in  matters  of  law  than  he  was  ;  that  he  knew 
what  his  own  conscience  demanded,  and,  because 
he  had  taken  the  oath  of  succession  to  his  father, 
he  had  refused  to  sign." 

Edward  replied,  "  that  his  father  had  no  doubt 
done  what  seemed  to  him  best  at  the  time  ;  that 
probably  he  had  not  anticipated  the  period  which 
was  near,  and  could  not.  foresee  that  the  realm 
would  be  again  subjected  to  the  Roman  Catholic 
religion  ;  that,  in  the  natural  course  of  years,  his 
own  life  would  have  greatly  exceeded  either  of 
his  sisters,  whom  he  tenderly  loved."    He  spoke 


230  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

of  the  friends,  whom  God  had  given  him,  with 
much  sweetness,  and  of  the  paternal  affection  that 
the  Archbishop  had  always  shown  him,  and  M  Can 
it  be,"  said  he  with  animation,  "  that  you  will  op- 
pose my  wishes  when  all  the  rest  of  the  Council 
yield  to  them  ?  " 

The  Archbishop's  tears  flowed  as  the  young 
King  spoke,  and,  at  the  last  appeal,  he  seemed 
wholly  overcome  ;  for,  as  he  wrote  afterwards  to 
Queen  Mary,  "  he  was  sorely  grieved,  out  of  the 
dear  love  he  bore  the  King,"  and  so,  remember- 
ing the  assurances  of  the  King's  attorney  and 
judges,  and  of  all  the  Council,  he  at  last  set  his 
hand. 

It  cannot  but  occur  to  every  one,  that  Nor- 
thumberland and  his  emissaries  had  exerted  undue 
influence  over  the  mind  of  Edward  in  his  feeble 
and  declining  state,  that  they  had  used  the  Ref- 
ormation as  the  agent  of  their  ambitious  schemes. 
The  Archbishop  was  not  allowed  to  be  with  him, 
or  he  would  have  counteracted  the  influence  they 
were  exercising,  as  nothing  could  be  plainer  than 
that  Mary  and  Elizabeth  were  the  rightful  succes- 
sors to  the  crown. 

It  must  have  cost  Cranmer  much  anguish  to  be 
separated  so  entirely  from  his  god-son,  with  whom 
he  had  enjoyed  for  so  many  years  such  constant 
intercourse.  It  has  been  suggested  that  Edward's 
affections  were  in  some  degree  weaned  from  him  ; 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  231 

but  this  is  merely  conjecture,  and  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  resort  to  it.  The  constant  changes  of  his 
residence  effected  by  Northumberland,  the  King's 
own  illness,  and  the  anxiety  he  felt  about  the 
realm,  might  have  fully  occupied  him.  Cranmer, 
too,  from  his  high  office  was  necessarily  at  his 
different  residences. 

The  last  days  of  Edward  were  such  as  might 
be  expected  from  his  innocent  and  kindly  life. 
His  strength  gradually  declined,  and,  finally,  the 
physicians  seeming  to  be  discouraged,  and  say- 
ing they  could  do  nothing  more  for  him,  a  wo- 
man, who  had  acquired  reputation  by  some  suc- 
cessful cures,  was  allowed  to  prescribe  for  him; 
but,  he  growing  worse,  she  was  dismissed,  and 
the  physicians  were  recalled. 

As  the  time  of  his  death  drew  near,  his  eyes 
being  closed,  he  thought  no  one  was  by  him,  and 
he  made  the  following  prayer. 

"  '  Lord  God,  deliver  me  out  of  this  miserable 
and  wretched  life,  and  take  me  among  thy  chosen. 
Howbeit,  not  my  will,  but  thy  will  be  done. 
Lord,  I  commit  my  spirit  to  Thee.  O  Lord, 
Thou  knowest  how  happy  it  were  for  me  to  be 
with  Thee  ;  yet,  for  thy  chosen's  sake,  send  me 
life  and  health,  that  I  may  truly  serve.  O  my 
Lord  God,  bless  thy  people,  and  save  thine 
inheritance.  O  Lord  God,  save  thy  chosen 
people  of  England.     O  my  Lord   God,  defend 


232  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

this  realm  from  Papistry,  and  maintain  Thy  true 
religion,  that  I  and  my  people  may  praise  Thy 
holy  name,  for  Thy  Son  Jesus  Christ's  sake.' 

"  Then,  turning  his  face,  and  seeing  who  was 
by  him,  he  sayd  unto  him,  c  Are  ye  so  nigh  ? 
I  thought  yee  had  been  further  off.' 

"  Then  the  doctor  sayd,  c  We  heard  you  speake 
to  yourself.' 

"  So,  then,  after  his  fashion  smiling,  he  sayd, 
CI  was  praying  to  God.' 

"  The  last  words  he  uttered  were,  c  I  am 
faint,  Lord,  have  mercie  upon  me,  and  take  my 
spirit.'  "  * 

*  Copied  from  Fox's  "  Memorials,"  who  was  contem- 
porary. 


CRANMER    AND    HfS    TIMES.  233 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

As  Northumberland  determined  to  put  matters 
in  train  for  executing  the  will  of  Edward,  before 
his  death  was  announced,  he  endeavoured  to  keep 
it  secret.  Another  motive,  too,  operated  with 
him.  Mary  had  been  requested  to  hasten  to  her 
brother  in  his  last  sickness,  and  it  was  the  Duke's 
desire,  that  she  might  arrive  before  she  knew  of 
his  death,  and  by  that  means  fall  unconsciously 
into  his  power.  The  Earl  of  Arundel,  however, 
who  was  a  fast  friend  to  Mary,  secretly  wrote  to 
her  and  informed  her  of  the  event,  and  advised 
her  to  keep  out  of  the  way  of  Northumberland. 
Mary  immediately  repaired  to  Norfolk,  where  she 
knew  the  Duke  was  much  hated,  and  from  there 
wrote  to  the  Council,  that  it  was  most  strange  that 
they  had  not  informed  her  of  Edward's  death,  as 
she  was  the  rightful  successor  to  the  throne. 

Northumberland,  now  seeing  there  were  no 
measures  to  keep,  entered  at  once  upon  his  own 
plans.  He  immediately  repaired  to  Durham,  the 
residence  of  the  Lady  Jane.  When  he  entered, 
he  hailed  her,  with  much  parade  of  courtesy,  as 


234  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

Queen  of  England,  informing  her,  that  such  was 
the  last  will  and  testament  of  her  royal  cousin. 

Jane's  attachment  to  Edward  had  been  fervent 
and  sincere.  She  was  several  years  older  than 
he,  and  had  been  able  to  assist  him  in  many  of 
his  studies.  Her  excellent  tutor,  Dr.  Elmer, 
seeing  the  capacity  of  her  mind,  and  her  disposi- 
tion to  learning,  had  willingly  yielded  to  her  de- 
sire of  making  herself  mistress  of  the  dead  lan- 
guages. Though  surrounded  by  gay  amusements, 
she  devoted  the  early  part  of  the  day  to  study; 
and,  it  is  well  known,  that  when  Roger  Ascham, 
the  tutor  of  Elizabeth,  once  called  to  see  her,  he 
found  her  reading  the  "  Phaedon  "  of  Plato,  while 
all  her  friends  and  family  were  amusing  themselves 
with  hunting  in  the  Park,  and  other  sports. 

"  How  comes  it,  my  Lady,"  said  he,  "  that 
you  thus  seclude  yourself  from  the  pleasures  that 
the  others  are  enjoying." 

"I  have  tried  them  all,"  said  she  pleasantly, 
"  and  I  find  them  shadows  of  enjoyment,  and 
this  my  reality  ;  "  —  laying  her  hand  on  the  book. 

tc  And  yet  it  is  rare,  for  one  so  young,  to  love 
learning  better  than  innocent  sport,"  replied  he. 

"  I  have  had  peculiar  blessings,"  said  she 
smiling;  "my  parents  considered  it  a  duty  to 
bring  me  up  with  much  discipline  ;  and  I  found 
more  indulgence  from  my  tutor  than  from  them. 
Often,  when  I  neglected  to  observe  some  of  the 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  235 

formalities  their  high  rank  enjoined,  they  angrily 
sent  me  from  their  presence,  and  I  took  refuge 
with  Dr.  Elmer.  Ah,  Sir,  it  has  been  a  great 
blessing  to  me  that  I  have  had  sharp  parents  and  a 
gentle  schoolmaster  !" 

She  had  studied  the  Scriptures  with  great  at- 
tention, and  was  able  to  point  out  to  her  young 
cousin  Edward,  what  were  practical  parts,  and 
what  doctrines.  The  example  and  society  of 
Jane  had  done  much  towards  forming  his  charac- 
ter ;  and  it  is  not  strange,  that  he  earnestly  wish- 
ed, that  she,  who  would  rule  so  virtuously,  might 
be  the  inheritor  of  his  crown.  In  sickness,  and 
especially  the  undermining  and  gradual  inroad  of 
consumption,  one  idea  often  clings  pertinaciously 
to  the  mind.  Edward  saw  only  the  good  of  this 
arrangement  ;  the  evil  was  carefully  concealed 
from  him,  and  he  cherished  it  with  a  tenacity  that 
bordered  on  monomania. 

It  may  well  be  supposed,  that,  with  such  studi- 
ous habits,  and  a  disposition  humble  and  retired, 
Jane  heard  the  announcement  of  her  succession 
with  no  emotions  of  delight.  But,  for  a  time,  all 
was  forgotten  in  her  sorrow  for  Edward's  death. 
He  had  sent  her  little  testimonies  of  his  affection, 
—  the  books  they  had  read  together,  the  writing- 
desk,  and  even  the  last  pen,  he  had  used  ;  and, 
to  the  astonishment  of  Northumberland,  these 
remembrances  occupied    her  heart,  and   not  the 


236  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

jewelled  crown  of  the  Saxon  race.  He  thought 
proper,  however,  to  recall  her  wandering  thoughts 
with  some  severity. 

"  Alas  !  my  Lord,"  said  she,  "  how  can  I  as- 
cend the  throne  but  as  a  usurper.  By  the  laws 
of  Henry  the  Eighth,  by  the  laws  of  the  king- 
dom, and  by  natural  right,  the  crown  must  go  to 
the  King^  sisters.  Spare  me  the  burden  such 
an  assumption  would  bring  upon  my  conscience. 
I  cannot  consent  to  enrich  myself  by  the  spoils 
of  others." 

"  This  is  a  measure  that  has  been  long  dis- 
cussed," replied  the  Earl,  "  and  only  decided  on 
for  the  good  of  the  nation  and  the  saving  of  inno- 
cent blood." 

Jane  clasped  her  hands  with  energy,  and  ex- 
claimed prophetically,  "  See  you  not,  that  this 
usurpation  will  be  washed  out  in  rivers  of  your 
own  blood  ?  " 

u  It  becomes  us  not,"  said  the  Earl,  "  to  op- 
pose the  will  of  the  pious  and  gentle  Edward, 
who  might  well  have  acted  from  inspiration." 

"  The  inspiration  of  men  !  "  said  Jane,  in  a 
low  and  solemn  voice. 

u  The  judges  and  counsellors,"  resumed  Nor- 
thumberland, "  have  set  their  hands  to  it,  even 
Cranmer,  the  sturdy  Archbishop.  Dudley,  my 
son,  unite  with  me  to  persuade  your  wife  to  ac- 
cept of  a  kingdom  bequeathed  to  her." 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  237 

Dudley,  who  had  the  ambition  of  his  father, 
joined  his  importunities. 

cc  Be  it  so,"  said  Jane,  weeping  ;  "  and  God 
grant  there  may  be  but  one  victim  in  the  cause." 

"  This  is  an  ungracious  acceptance,  my  gentle 
wife,"  said  Dudley  ;  "  but,  for  the  present,  we 
must  be  contented  with  it.  But,  believe  me, 
love,  a  diadem  will  receive  more  honor  than  it 
confers  when  placed  upon  your  brow." 

How  pleasant  is  the  language  of  flattery, 
whispered  from  the  lips  of  those  who  are  dear. 
Smiles  mingled  with  Jane's  tears,  and  she  tried 
to  feel  happy. 

The  day  following,  Jane  was  conducted  to  the 
Tower,  with  pale  cheeks  and  streaming  eyes  ; 
her  train  was  borne  by  her  mother.  The  Lord 
Treasurer  presented  her  the  crown,  and  the  city 
of  London  rang  with  the  shouts  of  her  proclama- 
tion. "  Long  live  Queen  Jane  !  "  was  echoed 
and  re-echoed  again  and  again  ;  and  Northumber- 
land triumphed. 

It  was  remarked,  however,  at  the  time,  that 
there  was  not  much  heart  in  these  acclamations. 
Mary  was  considered  the  natural  heir  to  the 
throne  ;  and,  though  they  feared  her  bigotry,  they 
were  not  satisfied  with  the  measures  which  set 
her  claims  aside.  Northumberland,  too,  was 
thoroughly  odious  to  the  people  who  looked  on 
him  as  the  murderer  of  Somerset,  and  even  en- 


238  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

tertained  suspicions,  which  his  present  conduct 
tended  to  confirm,  that  he  had,  in  some  way, 
contributed  to  the  death  of  the  King. 

Mary,  in  the  mean  time,  caused  her  title  to  be 
proclaimed  in  Norfolk,  and  many  flocked  to  her 
banner.  News  of  her  success  was  continually 
arriving,  and  Northumberland  saw  that  it  was  ne- 
cessary to  endeavour  to  quell  what  he  styled  re- 
bellion to  the  royal  will.  It  was  proper  that  some 
one  should  take  command  of  the  forces.  There 
was  no  one  but  Suffolk,  the  father  of  Lady  Jane, 
on  whose  fidelity  Norfolk  could  rely,  and  he  was 
a  man  without  energy  or  military  skill.  The  only 
measure,  therefore,  that  Northumberland  could 
adopt,  was  to  send  Jane  to  the  Tower,  under  the 
safe  keeping  of  her  father,  and  himself  take  the 
command  of  the  forces. 

He  requested  Ridley  and  some  other  preach- 
ers, to  appeal  to  the  religious  feelings  of  the  peo- 
ple from  the  pulpit.  Ridley  did  it  in  an  able 
manner,  contrasting  the  characters  of  the  present 
competitors,  the  gentleness  and  piety  of  the  one, 
with  the  haughtiness,  bigotry,  and  Popish  creed 
of  the  other.  But  his  eloquence  produced  only 
a  temporary  effect. 

When  the  Council  found  that  all  England 
were  turning  against  them,  they  concerted  togeth- 
er what  would  be  the  safest  way  for  them  to  turn, 
and  sent  orders  to  the  Tower  for  the  Duke  of 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  239 

Suffolk  to  give  up  the  place,  acknowledge  Mary 
as  Queen,  and  for  Jane  to  lay  down  her  assumed 
title.  Suffolk  submitted  at  once,  and  Jane  de- 
clared most  truly,  that  she  "  laid  down  the  title 
with  more  pleasure  than  she  took  it  up." 

Northumberland  retreated  to  Cambridge,  in 
hopes  of  new  recruits  ;  but,  hearing  that  things 
were  going  against  him,  he  dismissed  his  forces 
and  went  to  the  market-place,  and  there,  flinging 
up  his  hat,  he  shouted  with  the  rabble,  "  God 
save  Queen  Mary."  This,  however,  did  not 
save  him  ;  he  was  immediately. arrested  and  sent 
to  the  Tower. 

Jane  had  retired  to  Sion-House  after  nine  days 
of  pretended  royalty,  but  actual  misery.  Her 
husband,  whose  ambition  had  grown  with  his 
wife's  honors,  had  insisted  on  being  made  king  ; 
and  she  saw  nothing  before  her  but  domestic  dis- 
sensions, and  the  destruction  of  her  conjugal  hap- 
piness. 

Elizabeth  had  taken  no  part  in  this  affair,  but 
conducted  herself  with  the  wisdom  which  always 
distinguished  her.  Northumberland  sent  to  her 
to  offer  her  a  large  grant  of  lands  in  the  beginning, 
if  she  would  renounce  all  pretensions  to  the  suc- 
cession. She  replied,  that  she  had  "nothing  to 
renounce  as  long  as  her  elder  sister  was  living." 

When  Mary's  cause  prevailed,  Elizabeth  met 
her  with  a  numerous  retinue.     They  rode  through 


240  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  streets  of  the  city  together,  on  well-trained 
palfreys,  that  pranced  and  curvetted,  as  if  proud 
of  their  burdens.  All  the  shops  were  dressed  in 
their  gayest  attire,  houses  thrown  open,  balco- 
nies filled,  and  the  different  crafts  arranged  to  the 
greatest  advantage.  Many  remembered  Henry 
in  his  youth,  then  remarkable  for  his  majestic 
bearing  ;  but  they  could  trace  no  resemblance  in 
the  Queen.  Neither  could  they  perceive  any 
traces  of  Catharine  of  Aragon,  who,  though  not 
handsome,  was  graceful  and  commanding.  Mary 
was  small,  with  keen  black  eyes,  and  a  counte- 
nance on  which  disappointment  and  restless  anxi- 
ety had  imprinted  deep  lines.  She  was  no  longer 
young,  and  time  had  not  dealt  gently  with  her. 
Elizabeth  rode  by  her  side,  and,  perhaps,  appear- 
ed to  more  advantage  than  she  had  ever  done  be- 
fore. She  had  the  charm  of  youth,  which  never 
fails  to  lend  a  real  or  imaginary  grace.  Her  eyes 
were  said  to  be  good,  but  neither  of  the  royal  sis- 
ters could  boast  of  beauty. 

What  is  the  tribute  of  the  populace  ?  The 
same  voices  that  cried  "  God  save  Queen  Jane  ! ' 
a  few  days  before,  now  shouted  for  Queen  Mary. 
Young  and  old  joined  in  the  general  acclamation. 
When  they  entered  the  Tower,  they  found  in 
waiting  prisoners  of  the  preceding  reign.  They 
knelt  to  Mary.  She  bade  them  rise,  kissed  them, 
and    said    henceforth   they    were    her   prisoners. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  241 

Among  these  were  the  Duke  of  Norfolk,  the 
Duchess  of  Somerset  (who  had  been  confined  in 
the  Tower  since  the  execution  of  her  husband), 
and  Gardiner,  the  Ex-Bishop  of  Winchester. 
"  The  same  day,  she  ordered  a  dole  of  eight 
pence  to  be  distributed  to  every  poor  household- 
er in  the  city." 

During  Edward's  reign,  great  simplicity  of  ap- 
parel had  been  adopted.  Ladies  of  the  highest 
rank  wore  no  jewelry  or  costly  ornaments,  but 
something  approaching  Puritanism  had  been  adopt- 
ed by  the  reformers,  in  opposition  to  the  gorgeous 
pageantry  of  Popish  customs.  Mary's  taste  led 
her  to  a  gay  and  diversified  apparel  ;  and  this, 
which  is  always  in  unison  with  the  taste  of  the 
lower  classes,  was  quickly  imitated. 

One  of  the  first  acts  of  Parliament  was,  to 
cause  the  marriage  of  Queen  Catharine  to  Henry 
to  be  declared  lawful.  Gardiner,  who  had  been 
so  instrumental  in  procuring  the  divorce,  was  now 
equally  active  in  removing  it,  and  attributed  the 
divorce  wholly  to  Cranmer.  Northumberland, 
with  two  of  the  conspirators  against  the  succes- 
sion of  Mary,  were  executed  ;  but  her  vengeance 
as  yet  slept  for  others. 

The  Queen  soon  demonstrated,  that,  whatever 
promises  she  had  given  her  subjects,  the  Catholic 
form  was  to  be  adopted  by  the  nation.  She  ac- 
quainted  both    the    Emperor    of    Germany,    her 

16 


242  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

cousin,  and  the  King  of  France,  with  her  deter- 
mination to  restore  the  Catholic  worship.  Hen- 
ry applauded  her  zeal,  but  Charles  advised  her  to 
proceed  with  caution  ;  and  she  so  far  regarded 
his  advice,  as  to  suffer  the  funeral  of  Edward  to 
be  performed  according  to  the  Protestant  faith,  in 
Westminster  Abbey  ;  but  she  herself  had  high 
mass  said  at  the  same  time  in  the  chapel  of  the 
Tower. 

Hitherto,  Cranmerhad  taken  no  part  in  the  pro- 
ceedings. Well  might  he  be  disgusted  with  pub- 
lic life.  It  was  now  his  wish  to  live  as  retired  as 
possible,  and  to  promote,  as  far  as  in  him  lay,  the 
cause  of  the  reformed  religion.  But  dark  clouds 
hung  over  the  future.  In  the  midst  of  the  gloom 
and  despondency  of  his  mind,  he  was  roused  to  ac- 
tion by  a  report  generally  circulated,  that  he  had 
offered  to  perform  the  mass  at  King  Edward's 
funeral,  and  had  restored  that,  and  other  Roman 
Catholic  services,  at  his  church  in  Canterbury. 

The  Archbishop,  for  once,  seems  to  have  lost 
his  self-command,  and  resented  this  slander  in 
strong  and  bitter  language.  He  said,  in  his  ab- 
sence mass  was  performed  by  a  false,  lying,  flat- 
tering monk,  Dr.  Thornden,  whom  he  had  raised 
from  poverty,  and  admitted  to  his  table. 

He  resolved  to  do  something  in  a  public  man- 
ner to  put  down  this  report,  and  wrote  an  article, 
entitled,  "  A  Declaration  of  the  Reverend  Father 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES,  243 

in  God,  Thomas  Cranmer,  Archbishop  of  Can- 
terbury, condemning  the  untrue  and  slanderous 
Report  of  some,  who  have  reported  that  he  said 
he  should  set  up  the  Mass  at  Canterbury,  at  the 
first  Coming  of  the  Queen  to  her  Reign.    1553." 

The  Declaration  is  perfectly  full,  and  may  be 
read  in  Strype's  "Memorials  of  Cranmer."  He 
then  challenges  them  to  refute  the  doctrines  that 
he,  and  four  or  five  more,  with  Peter  Martyr, 
would  maintain  in  favor  of  the  Reformation, 
proving  that  the  doctrine  and  religion  established 
by  Edward  the  Sixth  were  more  pure  and  con- 
formable, than  any  that  had  been  known  in  Eng- 
land for  the  last  ten  centuries,  and  that  it  was  es- 
sentially the  same  that  had  been  used  in  the 
church  for  fifteen  hundred  years. 

This  Declaration  was  purloined  from  him  in 
some  way  or  other,  and  published  and  distributed 
at  large,  which  when  he  found  to  be  the  case,  he 
boldly  told  them,  "  that  it  had  been  his  intention 
to  enlarge  and  correct  the  document,  and  to  affix 
it,  with  his  own  hand  and  seal,  on  all  the  churches 
of  London." 

This  was  at  once  decided  to  be  a  seditious  bill. 
He  was  aware,  that,  from  this  time,  no  terms 
would  be  kept,  and  he  immediately  began  to  settle 
his  worldly  affairs.  He  scrupulously  paid  his 
debts,  and,  when  he  had  made  all  his  arrange- 
ments, said,  "  Thank  God  !  I  am  now  my  own 
man." 


244  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

The  prisons  began  to  be  crowded  with  victims, 
and  many  urged  Cranmer  to  escape  to  Germany. 
But  this  he  refused  for  himself,  though  he  urged 
others  to  do  it,  and  wrote  the  following  letter  to 
a  friend,  Mrs.  Wilkinson,  persuading  her  to  fly. 

"  The  true  comforter  in  all  distress  is  only 
God,  through  his  Son  Jesus  Christ.  And  who- 
soever hath  him,  hath  company  enough,  although 
he  were  in  a  wilderness  all  alone.  And  he  that 
hath  twenty  thousand  in  his  company,  if  God  be 
absent,  is  in  a  miserable  wilderness  and  desolation. 
In  him,  is  all  comfort ;  without  him,  is  none. 
Wherefore,  I  beseech  you,  seek  your  dwelling 
there,  whereas  you  may  rightly  and  truly  serve 
God,  and  dwell  in  him,  and  have  him  ever  dwell- 
ing in  you.  What  can  be  so  heavy  a  burden  as 
an  unquiet  conscience  ?  To  be  in  such  a  place  as 
cannot  be  suffered  to  serve  God  in  Christ's  reli- 
gion ?  If  you  be  loth  to  depart  from  your  kin 
and  friends,  remember  that  Christ  calleth  them 
his  mother,  sisters,  and  brothers,  that  do  his  Fa- 
ther's will.  Where  we  find,  therefore,  God  truly 
honored,  according  to  his  will,  there  we  can  lack 
neither  friend  nor  kin. 

"  If  you  be  loth  to  depart  for  slandering  God's 
Word,  remember  that  Christ,  when  his  hour  was 
not  yet  come,  departed  out  of  his  country  into 
Samaria,  to  avoid  the  malice  of  the  Scribes  and 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  245 

Pharisees  ;  and  commanded  his  apostles,  that,  if 
they  were  pursued  in  one  place,  they  should  fly 
to  another.  And  was  not  Paul  let  down  by  a 
basket,  out  at  a  window,  to  avoid  the  persecu- 
tion of  Aretus  ?  And  after  the  same  sort  did 
the  other  apostles.  Albeit,  when  it  came  to  such 
a  point,  that  they  could  no  longer  escape  danger 
of  the  persecutors  of  God's  true  religion,  then 
they  showed  themselves,  that  their  flying  before 
came  not  of  fear,  but  of  godly  wisdom,  to  do 
more  good,  and  that  they  would  not  rashly,  with- 
out urgent  necessity,  offer  themselves  to  death  ; 
which  had  been  but  a  temptation  of  God.  Yea, 
when  they  were  apprehended,  and  could  no  longer 
avoid,  then  they  stood  boldly  to  the  profession 
of  Christ.  Then  they  showed,  how  little  they 
passed  of  death  ;  how  much  they  feared  God 
more  than  men  ;  how  much  they  loved  and  pre- 
ferred the  eternal  life  to  come,  above  this  short 
and  miserable  life.  Wherefore,  I  exhort  you,  as 
well  by  Christ's  commandment,  as  by  the  exam- 
ple of  him  and  his  apostles,  to  withdraw  yourself 
from  the  malice  of  yours  and  God's  enemies,  into 
some  place  where  God  is  most  purely  served  ; 
which  is  no  slandering  of  the  truth,  but  a  preserv- 
ing of  yourself  to  God  and  the  truth,  and  to  the 
society  and  comfort  of  Christ's  little  flock ;  and 
that  you  will  do  it  with  speed,  lest,  by  your  own 
folly,  you  fall  into  the  persecutor's  hands.     And 


246  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

the  Lord  send  his  Holy  Spirit  to  lead  and  guide 
you,  wheresoever  you  go.  And  all  that  be  godly 
will  say,  Amen." 

This  letter  is  given  at  full  length.  It  demon- 
strates the  view  the  Archbishop  took  of  the  state 
of  the  realm,  and  the  courage  with  which  he 
made  up  his  mind  to  remain,  even  unto  death. 
He  considered  the  situation  he  had  held,  and  the 
active  part  he  had  taken  in  the  Reformation,  as 
calling  for  a  different  mode  of  conduct  from  that 
which  he  prescribed  for  others.  "For,"  he  said, 
"  it  would  be  no  ways  fitting  for  him  to  go  away." 
Great  numbers,  however,  fled,  of  all  classes,  to 
Strasburg,  Wesel,  Embden,  Antwerp,  Frank- 
fort, Basle,  Zurich,  Geneva,  and  other  places. 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  247 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

"On  the  13th  of  November,  1553,  the  first 
year  of  Mary's  reign,  Cranmer  was  attainted  of 
high  treason,  with  the  Lady  Jane  and  her  hus- 
band." The  Archbishop  had  been  suffered  thus 
long  to  remain  at  liberty.  The  Queen  could  not 
be  wholly  forgetful  of  the  good  offices  he  had 
done  her  with  her  father,  in  saving  her  from  his 
anger  ;  and,  perhaps,  she  had  a  secret  hope  he 
might  be  brought  to  compromise  his  religious 
principles  with  his  deference  for  royalty  and  the 
laws  of  the  land.  She  had  but  too  much  ground 
for  this  idea  in  his  conduct  during  Henry's  reign. 
But  his  open  and  violent  declaration  against  the 
mass  cut  off  all  hope  of  his  connivance,  and  she 
determined  to  proceed  to  extremities.  Cranmer 
had  uniformly  said,  "  next  to  God,  was  the  King 
and  laws  of  the  realm  ;  "  and  he  now  proved  his 
sincerity. 

The  chief  management  of  the  kingdom  was 
consigned  to  Gardiner,  who  was  made  Lord 
Chancellor. 

Cranmer,  being  divested  of  his  Archbishopric, 


248  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

was  condemned  to  prison,  and  led  through  the 
streets  amid  the  general  grief  of  the  spectators. 
Soon  after,  Latimer,  Ridley,  and  Bradford,  joined 
him.     Latimer  thus  describes  their  situation  ; 

"  Mr.  Cranmer,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury, 
Mr.  Ridley,  Bishop  of  London,  that  holy  man, 
Mr.  Bradford,  and  I,  old  Hugh  Latimer,  were 
imprisoned  in  the  Tower  of  London  for  Christ's 
gospel-preaching,  and  because  we  would  not  go  a 
massing.  The  same  Tower  being  so  full  of  pris- 
oners, we  four  were  thrust  into  one  chamber,  as 
men  not  to  be  accounted  of."  Here  these  vener- 
able men  passed  their  time  in  reading  and  study- 
ing the  Scriptures,  and  enlightening  and  confirm- 
ing each  other's  faith. 

Cranmer  seems  to  have  made  all  reasonable 
exertions  to  mollify  the  Queen.  He  sent  a  letter 
to  her,  suing  for  pardon,  and  acknowledging  his 
fault  in  signing  King  Edward's  will.  It  does  not 
appear  that  any  notice  was  taken  of  his  letters. 

The  Emperor  of  Spain  had  proposed  to  Mary, 
a  marriage  with  his  son  Philip,  and  the  Queen 
was  thought  to  receive  the  proposal  with  com- 
placency. Gardiner  was  much  opposed  to  this 
union.  Indeed,  both  Protestants  and  Catholics 
reprobated  a  measure  which  would  place  a  for- 
eigner and  a  despotic  prince  on  the  throne  of  Eng- 
land. The  Commons  made  an  address  to  the 
Queen,  urging  her  to  marry,  but  not  to  unite  a 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  249 

foreign   family  to  the  kingdom,  but  to  choose  a 
husband  from  her  own  realm. 

Mary  suspected  that  Gardiner  was  the  instigator 
of  this  address,  and  she  at  once  took  a  solemn 
oath  before  the  sacrament,  that  she  pledged  her 
faith  to  Philip  of  Spain,  and  would  marry  no  other 
man.  She  then  made  a  spirited  reply  to  the  ad- 
dress, saying,  "that  she  thanked  them  for  their 
expressions  of  loyalty ;  but,  inasmuch  as  they 
pretended  to  limit  her  choice  in  a  husband,  she 
thanked  them  not.  The  marriages  of  her  pre- 
decessors had  been  free,  and  hers  should  be." 

This  address  at  once  changed  the  language  of 
the  Lords  and  Commons,  and  they  promised  her 
Philip  should  be  received  with  a  hearty  welcome. 

In  the  mean  time,  Mary  signed  a  warrant  for 
the  execution  of  Jane  Gray  and  her  husband. 
It  appeared,  at  first,  that  she  had  not  designed 
this  severity.  She  spoke  of  Jane  as  "  her  cous- 
in," and  as  "  drawn  into  the  snare  laid  for  her  "  ; 
but  she  was  urged  to  other  measures  by  counsellors 
and  the  advice  of  the  Emperor,  as  there  had  been 
an  insurrection,  and  an  attempt  made  to  set  the 
crown  on  Elizabeth's  head.  This,  they  assured 
her,  had  arisen  from  her  great  clemency  towards 
Jane  ;  and  she  and  her  husband  were  condemned 
to  die  at  the  expiration  of  three  days. 

Jane  received  this  intelligence  with  apparently 
less  sorrow  than  she  had  received  the  invitation 


250  CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

to  a  throne.  Feckman,  one  of  Mary's  priests, 
strove  to  convert  her  to  the  Catholic  faith.  She 
listened  with  patience,  and  replied  to  all  he  said, 
fully  acknowledging  her  sin  in  assuming  the  royal 
dignity,  from  persuasions  to  which  she  never  ought 
to  have  yielded.  We  quote  from  an  account  of 
what  passed  between  them. 

When  Dr.  Feckman  went  to  see  Jane,  he 
found  her  with  her  Bible  before  her. 

"  Dr.  Feckman.  Madam,  I  lament  your  heavy 
case  ;  and  yet,  I  doubt  not,  but  that  you  bear  out 
this  sorrow  of  yours  with  a  constant  and  patient 
mind. 

"  Jane.  You  are  welcome  unto  me,  Sir,  if 
your  coming  be  to  give  Christian  exhortation  ;  and, 
as  for  my  heavy  case,  I  thank  God  I  do  so  little 
lament  it,  that  rather  I  account  the  same  for  a 
more  manifest  declaration  of  God's  favor  towards 
me,  than  ever  he  showed  me  before.  And  there- 
fore there  is  no  cause  why  either  you,  or  other, 
which  bear  me  good  will,  should  lament  or  be 
grieved  with  this  my  case,  being  a  thing  so  profit- 
able for  my  soul's  health. 

u  Dr.  Feckman.  I  am  here  come  to  you  at 
this  present,  sent  from  the  Queen  and  her  Coun- 
cil to  instruct  you  in  the  true  doctrine  of  the  right 
faith  ;  although  I  have  so  great  confidence  in  you, 
that  I  shall  have,  I  trust,  little  need  to  travail  with 
you  much  therein. 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  251 

"Jane.  Forsooth,  I  heartily  thank  the  Queen's 
Highness,  which  is  not  unmindful  of  her  humble 
subject ;  and  I  hope,  likewise,  that  you  no  less 
will  do  your  duty  therein,  both  truly  and  faithfully, 
according  to  that  you  were  sent  for." 

There  is  great  dignity  in  this  answer.  A  com- 
mon mind  would  have  reverted  to  relationship 
with  the  Queen,  and  to  their  former  intimacy  ; 
but  we  see  nothing  of  this  in  Jane. 

In  the  course  of  their  conversation,  Jane  de- 
fines her  belief.  "  To  love  our  neighbour,"  she 
says,  is  "  to  feed  the  hungry,  to  clothe  the  naked, 
and  give  drink  to  the  thirsty,  and  to  do  to  them  as 
we  would  do  to  ourselves." 

After  much  conversation,  in  which  the  good 
Doctor  accused  her  of  "grounding  her  faith  upon 
such  authors  as  say  and  unsay,  both  with  a  breath, 
and  not  upon  the  Church,  to  whom  she  ought  to 
give  credit." 

Jane's  answer  is  direct ;  "  No  ;  I  ground  my 
faith  on  God's  Word,  and  not  upon  the  Church." 

After  much  reasoning,  Dr.  Feckman  took  his 
leave,  saying,  that  he  was  sorry  for  her  ;  u  for  I 
am  sure,"  said  he,  u  that  we  two  shall  never 
meet  again." 

Jane's  reply  is  in  accordance  with  his,  and  we 
regret  that  her  faith  did  not  admit  of  a  more  lib- 
eral one.  "  True  it  is,"  said  she,  "  we  shall 
never  meet,  unless  God  turn  your  heart.     You  are 


252  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

in  an  evil  case  ;  and  I  pray  God  to  send  you  his 
Holy  Spirit  ;  for  he  hath  given  you  his  great  gift 
of  utterance,  if  it  pleaseth  him  to  open  the  eyes 
of  your  heart." 

Jane  wrote  a  letter  to  her  father,  opening  to 
him  the  state  of  her  mind,  in  which  she  assures 
him,  that  "  there  can  be  nothing  more  welcome 
to  her  than  to  aspire  to  that  heavenly  throne  of  all 
joy  and  pleasure,  with  Christ  our  Saviour."  She 
also  wrote  to  her  sister,  and  there  are  several 
prayers  of  hers  recorded.  Her  husband  was 
condemned  to  be  beheaded  on  the  scaffold  at  the 
same  time  ;  but  so  much  pity  and  sympathy  were 
expressed,  that  it  was  not  thought  prudent,  for 
fear  of  public  tumult. 

Her  husband  requested  that  he  might  take  leave 
of  her  ;  but  this  she  declined,  giving  excellent 
reasons.  She  bade  him  a  farewell  from  her  win- 
dow, as  he  passed  to  the  scaffold,  where  he  met 
his  fate  with  much  Christian  meekness.  When 
his  dead  body,  laid  on  a  car,  and  his  head,  wrap- 
ped in  a  cloth,  were  carried  by,  she  is  said  to  have 
again  looked  upon  the  sad  spectacle,  —  probably 
no  longer  sad  to  her,  for  in  one  short  hour  she  be- 
lieved they  were  to  be  re-united  never  to  part 
again.  Notwithstanding  he  was  of  a  much  more 
worldly  and  ambitious  nature  than  herself,  there 
was  a  strong  affection  between  them,  and  the  dis- 


CRANMER  AND  HIS   TIMES.  253 

sension  that  had  arisen  while  she  was  Queen,  had 
made  her  crown  one  of  thorns. 

About  an  hour  after  his  execution,  she  was 
standing  on  the  scaffold,  and  Feckman  again  by 
her  side.  He  renewed  his  discourse,  which  she 
did  not  appear  much  to  heed,  being  deeply  en- 
gaged with  a  book  of  prayers  that  she  held  in 
her  hand.  At  length  she  saluted  those  who  were 
present,  with  a  composed  countenance,  and,  turn- 
ing to  Dr.  Feckman,  said,  "  God  will  abundantly 
requite  you,  Sir,  for  your  humanity  to  me."  She 
then  addressed  a  few  words  to  the  spectators, 
gave  her  handkerchief  and  gloves  to  two  female 
attendants,  and  to  the  lieutenant  of  the  Tower  her 
prayer-book. 

The  executioner  offered  to  assist  her  in  pre- 
paring for  the  block  ;  but  she  declined  his  servi- 
ces. Her  women  tied  a  handkerchief  over  her 
eyes,  and  the  executioner,  kneeling,  desired  her 
pardon.  "  Most  willingly,"  was  her  reply.  u  Lord 
Jesus,  into  thy  hands  I  commend  my  spirit. 'V 
One  stroke  severed  her  head  from  her  body. 

In  the  following  May,  Philip  arrived,  to  wed 
the  Queen.  He  was  met  on  the  beach  by  a  nu- 
merous retinue  which  the  Queen  had  sent,  and 
also  a  Spanish  jennet  richly  caparisoned.  He 
was  invested  with  the  order  of  the  garter,  and  a 
royal  salute  was  fired.  He  mounted  the  jennet 
with  much  grace  and  activity,  and  as  he  rode  to  the 


254  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

church,  and  afterwards  to  his  lodgings,  the  people 
hailed  with  acclamations  the  future  husband  of 
their  sovereign.  His  youth,  the  grace  of  his 
person,  and  his  courteous  manner,  charmed  the 
spectators.  "  God  save  your  Grace  !  "  was  shout- 
ed on  every  side.  He  gave  them  continual  assu- 
rances of  his  affection,  and,  Lingard  says,  in  con- 
formity to  the  customs  of  England,  drank  fare- 
well to  the  company  in  a  tankard  of  ale. 

Philip  sent  the  Queen  a  present  of  jewels, 
valued  at  one  hundred  thousand  crowns.  The 
marriage  was  celebrated  iri  the  Cathedral  Church 
at  Winchester,  with  great  splendor  and  magnifi- 
cence. The  mass  was  said,  and  then  Philip  and 
Mary,  hand  in  hand,  left  the  church,  and  dined 
in  public. 

This,  and  other  events,  had  delayed  the  trial 
of  the  prisoners.  On  the  12th  of  September, 
1555,  the  Primate  was  summoned  into  the  pres- 
ence of  his  accusers.  The  commission  was  held 
in  St.  Mary's  Church,  at  Oxford.  Let  us  now 
repair  to  the  place  with  the  numerous  crowd  of 
spectators,  assembled  to  witness  the  arrival  of 
Cranmer.  Perhaps,  among  them  all,  he  had  not 
one  personal  enemy,  and  yet  there  were  many 
who  wished  to  find  him  guilty.  There  is  a  strange 
insensibility  in  party  feeling.  It  lives  upon  its 
victims,  and  even  upright  men  become  corrupted 
by  it.     Those  are  pronounced  guilty  who  are  in 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  255 

the  opposite  faction.  During  Edward's  reign, 
the  present  judges  were  the  offenders,  and  some 
of  them  were  cast  into  prison.  Now,  we  must  see 
a  new  standard  of  justice  erected.  Yet,  surely, 
those  who  look  on  at  this  remote  period,  may  do 
it  with  impartial  and  candid  minds  ;  they  may  di- 
vest themselves  of  prejudice,  and  Protestants  and 
Catholics  meet  on  the  same  common  ground. 

In  the  month  of  October,  previously  to  Cran- 
mer's  last  trial,  Latimer  and  Ridley,  who  had 
been  imprisoned  with  Cranmer,  were  tried  at  Ox- 
ford and  condemned.  They  had  taken  their  part 
in  the  disputation.  The  controversy  ended  as 
might  have  been  expected,  when  all  the  power 
was  on  one  side. 

Cranmer  was  first  summoned.  The  matter 
seems  to  have  been  most  disgracefully  managed. 
He  was  carried  back  to  prison  as  confuted. 

Ridley  was  next  summoned.  He  came  in  the 
vigor  of  health,  and  with  a  spirit  unsubdued,  but 
met  with  the  same  treatment  as  Cranmer.  He, 
likewise,  was  remanded  to  prison  as  confuted. 

Next  came  the  venerable  Latimer,  broken 
down  with  age  and  infirmity,  more  truly  Puritan- 
ical in  his  appearance  and  demeanor  than  most 
Protestants  of  the  time.  He  usually  carried  his 
large  Bible,  with  its  huge  clasps,  fastened  to  his 
girdle.  There  was  a  remarkable  simplicity  in  his 
countenance  and   manner.     He  begged  of  them 


256  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

"to  spare  him  the  disputation,  said  his  memory 
was  gone,  that  at  all  times  he  was  poorly  calcu- 
lated for  argument,  and  that  he  was  about  as  fit  to 
dispute  as  to  be  made  Captain  of  Calais."  He 
said  he  was  four  score,  and  only  now  asked  for  a 
quiet  end. 

This  appeal,  instead  of  softening  the  hearts  of 
the  court,  strengthened  them  in  the  belief  that  he 
would  gladly  recant,  especially  when  they  saw  his 
bodily  debility,  and  that  he  could  with  difficulty 
remain  standing.  But  they  were  mistaken.  He 
continued  firm  to  his  professions.  "  I  pray  for 
the  Queen  daily,"  said  he,  "  that  she  may  turn  ; 
but  ye  shall  have  no  hope  of  me." 

We  enter  not  into  the  details  which  followed. 
He  was  reviled  and  insulted,  the  simplicity  of 
his  character  calling  forth  ridicule  and  abuse. 

It  is  not  every  one  whose  style  of  writing  gives 
a  perfect  idea  of  his  character.  But  Old  Hugh 
Latimer's  certainly  does  ;  and,  for  this  reason, 
we  quote  a  few  passages  from  his  letters,  taken 
from  Fox.  We  wish  we  could  give  them  in  the 
black  letter,  which  is  truly  in  keeping. 

"  A  fruitfull  letter  of  Master  Latimer,  written 
to  a  certaine  gentleman. 

"  Right  Worshipfull,  salutem  in  Domino.  And 
now,  Sir,  I  understand  that  you  be  in  great  ad- 
mirations   at   me,  and  take   very  grievously   my 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  257 

manner  of  writing  to  you,  adding  thereunto,  that 
you  will  not  beare  it  at  my  hand,  no,  not  if  I  were 
the  best  Bishop  in  England.  Ah,  Sir,  I  see  well 
I  may  say  as  the  common  saying  is,  '  Well  have 
I  fished  and  caught  a  frog  ; '  brought  little  to 
passe  with  much  ado.  You  will  not  beare  it  with 
me,  you  say.  Why,  Sir,  what  will  you  doe  with 
me  ?  You  will  not  fight  with  me,  I  trowe.  It 
may  seem  unseemly  in  a  justice  of  the  peace  to 
be  a  breaker  of  the  peace.  I  am  glad  the  dot- 
ting times  of  my  foolish  youth  is  gone  and  past. 
What  will  you  then  doe  with  me  in  that  you  say 
you  will  not  beare  it  at  my  hand.  What  hath  my 
hand  offended  you  in  ?  " 

The  letter  is  a  very  long  one,  and  may  be  read 
in  Fox,  as  a  curious  specimen  of  the  simplicity 
and  godly  sincerity  of  this  man  without  guile. 

One  other  specimen  we  are  tempted  to  give. 

"  A  letter  sent  to  Mistresse  Wilkinson,*  of 
London,  widow,  from  Master  Hugh  Latimer,  out 
of  Bocardo,  in  Oxford. 

"  If  the  gift  of  a  pot  of  cold  water  shall  not 
be  in  oblivion  with  God,  how  can  God  forget 
your  manifold  and  bountiful  gifts,  when  he  shall 
say  to  you,  '  I  was  in  prison  and  you  visited  me.' 

*The  same  person  to  whom  Cranmer  wrote. 
17 


258  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

God  grant  us  all  to  doe  and  suffer  while  we  be 
here,  as  may  be  to  his  will  and  pleasure.     Amen. 

"  Yours,  in  Bocardo, 

u  Hugh  Latimer." 

A  bold  act  of  this  worthy  man  is  mentioned  in 
King  Henry's  time,  in  sending  the  King  a  pres- 
ent. "  There  was  then,  and  yet  remaineth  stil, 
an  old  customs,  received  from  the  old  Roman- 
ces, that,  upon  New-Year's  day,  being  the  first  day 
of  January,  every  Bishop,  with  some  handsome 
New  Year's  present,  should  gratifie  the  King  ; 
and  so  they  did,  some  with  gold,  some  with  a 
purse  full  of  money,  and  some  one  thing,  and 
some  another  ;  but  Master  Hugh  Latimer,  being 
Bishop  of  Worcester,  sent  him,  among  the  rest, 
a  New  Testament  for  his  New  Year's  gift,  wrap- 
ped up  in  a  napkin,  bearing  this  posie  about  it  ; 
'  Fornicatores  et  adulteros  judicabit  Dominus."' 
It  is  rather  surprising  the  posy  did  not  cost  him 
his  head. 

To  condemn  the  Archbishop,  as  he  had  held 
the  highest  place  in  the  realm,  required  more  for- 
mality. The  Archbishop  was  in  the  hands  of 
Cardinal  Pole,  who  had  come  over  under  Mary's 
reign,  and  resided  in  the  palace  at  Lambeth. 

Ridley  and  Latimer  were  brought  forth  to  the 
stake,  and  passed  by  Cranmer's  prison.  He 
looked  after  them,  and  prayed  fervently  that  their 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  259 

faith  and  patience   might  be  strengthened  to  the 
last. 

Previously  to  this  period,  there  had  been  many 
victims  to  Popish  cruelty.  Rogers,  Hooper, 
Taylor,  and  many  more  distinguished  men,  had, 
during  the  three  years  of  Mary's  reign,  suffered 
at  the  stake.  Those  who  have  any  taste  for  this 
sort  of  reading,  may  find  it  amply  set  out  in 
Fox's  "  Marty rology."  But  let  them  not  read 
wholly  one  side  ;  let  them  turn  to  the  victims  of 
reform,  and  grow  mild  and  charitable,  banishing 
the  unjust  and  tyrannical  exactions  of  party  feel- 
ing, and  allowing  to  every  man  the  right  of  opin- 
ion. The  law  passed  during  the  reign  of  Ed- 
ward, that  persons  should  be  publicly  whipped 
who  did  not  pronounce  Greek  in  a  certain  way, 
shows  the  spirit  of  the  times. 

Cranmer  had  been  summoned  to  appear  before 
the  Pope  at  Rome  ;  but  this  was  a  mockery,  as 
he  was  in  close  confinement.  The  dignity  of 
the  Archbishop's  office  rendered  it  necessary  that 
the  authority  for  proceeding  against  him  should 
issue  from  the  Pontiff;  and  this  authority  was 
now  obtained. 

Cardinal  de  Puteo  was  appointed  by  the  Pope, 
as  chief  judge  or  commissioner.  He  was  seated 
on  a  stage  erected  near  the  high  altar,  men  in 
power  on  each  side,  and  a  crowd  of  learned  men 


260  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

in  ranks  below.  A  profound  stillness  reigned 
after  the  summons  was  pronounced. 

"  Thomas,  Archbishop  of  Canterbury,  appear 
here  and  make  answer  for  the  charges  of  blasphe- 
my, incontinence,  and  heresy  to  the  Bishop  of 
Gloucester,  representing  the  person  of  the  Pope." 
The  Archbishop  was  then  brought  forward,  and 
stood  in  front  of  the  assembly,  so  that  all  might 
see  him.  He  was  habited  in  a  black  gown,  with 
his  doctor's  hood  upon  his  shoulders,  and  a  cap 
upon  his  head. 

Even  at  this  trying  moment,  Cranmer's  deport- 
ment was  consistent  with  his  high  ideas  of  royalty. 
To  the  royal  commissioners  he  took  off  his  cap 
successively  to  each,  bowing  low.  Then,  turn- 
ing to  the  representative  of  the  Pope,  he  placed 
his  cap  on  his  head,  and  stood  respectfully  wait- 
ing. 

The  Bishop  demanded  the  usual  signs  of  rev- 
erence, and  sternly  rebuked  him. 

Cranmer  replied,  that  he  had  solemnly  sworn 
never  to  recognise  the  papal  authority  in  England  ; 
that  to  officers  of  the  crown,  and  to  the  Bishop 
of  Gloucester,  had  he  been  one  of  them,  he 
would  most  willingly  have  paid  all  deference,  and 
that  he  had  no  want  of  personal  respect  to  the 
noble  lord. 

It  is  not  our  intention  to  go  into  the  details  of 
this  long  trial  of  Cranmer.     It  may  be  found  at 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  261 

full  length  in  the  "British  State  Trials,"  Vol.  L, 
and  a  general  and  able  view  of  the  whole  in  Le 
Bas's  "Life  of  Cranmer."  Bishop  Bonner's 
oration  against  him  is  a  curious  specimen  of  vul- 
gar vehemence.  "  This  is  the  man  that  hath 
ever  despised  the  Pope's  Holiness,  and  is  now  to 
be  judged  by  him.  This  is  the  man  who  hath 
pulled  down  so  many  churches,  and  now  is  judged 
in  a  church.  This  is  the  man  that  hath  con- 
demned the  blessed  sacrament  of  the  altar,  and 
now  is  condemned  before  that  blessed  sacrament 
hanging  over  the  altar.  This  is  the  man,  that, 
like  Lucifer,  sat  in  the  place  of  Christ  upon  an 
altar  to  judge  another,  and  now  is  come  before 
an  altar  to  be  judged  himself."  When  he  first 
began,  "  This  is  the  man,"  his  oratory  command- 
ed great  attention  among  the  audience,  which  he, 
probably  perceiving,  with  his  usual  want  of  tact, 
rung  upon  it,  till  it  became  not  only  tedious,  but 
ludicrous,  beginning  every  sentence,  "  This  is 
the  man."  He  was  so  abusive,  that  he  was  final- 
ly requested  by  his  own  party  to  stop. 

Cranmer's  address,  in  some  respects,  reminds 
us  of  Luther's,  and  nearly  the  same  reply  was 
made  to  him  by  some  of  the  commissioners  as 
that  made  to  the  German  reformer  before  the  diet 
at  Worms  ;  "  We  come  to  examine  you  ;  and 
you,  methinks,  examine  us." 

After  these   preliminaries,  they  proceeded    to 


262  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

degrade  the  Archbishop.  This  was  necessarily 
done  by  Thomas  Thirlby,  Bishop  of  Ely.  He 
was  an  old  friend,  and  was  greatly  affected  at  do- 
ing it,  shedding  many  tears,  u  so  that  Cranmer, 
moved  at  his  grief,  was  fain  to  comfort  him,  and 
told  him  he  was  well  contented  with  it.  So  they 
apparelled  Cranmer  in  all  the  garments  and  orna- 
ments of  an  Archbishop,  only  in  mockery  ;  every 
thing  was  of  canvass  and  old  rags.  And  the 
crosier  was  put  into  his  hands,  and  then  he  was 
piece  by  piece,  stripped  of  all  again.  When  they 
began  to  take  away  his  pal  (or  scarf),  he  asked, 
'  which  of  them  had  a  pal  to  take  away  his  pal  ? ' 
They  then  answered,  acknowledging  '  they  were 
his  inferiors  as  bishops,  but  as  they  were  the 
Pope's  delegates,  they  might  take  away  his  pal.' 
While  they  were  thus  spoiling  him  of  his  gar- 
ments, he  told  them,  c  that  it  needed  not ;  for 
that  he  had  done  with  this  gear  long  ago.'  " 

It  was  while  this  was  doing,  that  Bonner  made 
his  triumphant  speech  against  Cranmer  ;  u  This 
is  the  man,"  &c.  When  they  attempted  to  take 
his  crosier,  he  resisted  till  he  had  drawn  a  written 
appeal  from  his  sleeve  to  a  general  council.  He 
afterwards  said,  he  remembered  Luther  did  the 
same. 

Thirlby,  after  some  debate,  received  this  ap- 
peal, and  said  he  would  endeavour  to  get  it  ad- 
mitted.    "And  so,  after  this  interruption,   they 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  263 

proceeded  to  degrade  him,  taking  off  the  rest  of 
his  habits,  and  then  put  him  on  a  poor  yeoman 
beadle's  gown,  threadbare,  and  a  townsman's  cap. 
And  Bonner  told  him,  he  was  no  lord  any  more  ; 
and  so  he  was  sent  to  prison." 

To  the  above  insulting  ceremony,  other  indig- 
nities were  added.  His  hair  was  cut  close  to  his 
head,  and  his  fingers  scraped  by  Bonner,  to  signi- 
fy that  the  holy  oil  was  removed,  with  which  they 
had  been  anointed. 

Cranmer,  after  his  return  to  prison,  thought 
proper  to  write  to  the  Queen,  and  give  her  a  true 
account  of  all  these  transactions,  appealing  to  her 
as  her  natural  subject,  and  asserting  his  right  to  be 
judged  by  the  laws  of  her  kingdom,  and  not  by 
strangers.  The  letter  entered  into  a  full  state- 
ment of  his  opinions,  and  his  reasons  for  his  con- 
duct. 

The  Queen  received  the  letter,  and  gave  it  to 
Cardinal  Pole  to  answer  ;  whose  reply  is  inserted 
in  Strype's  Appendix  to  his  "  Memorials  of 
Cranmer." 

It  may  be  well  to  mention  here  the  sudden 
death  of  Gardiner,  who  has  been  so  conspicuous 
through  almost  the  whole  of  our  history.  Fox 
says,  it  took  place  just  a  one  month  after  the 
burning  of  Dr.  Ridley  and  Master  Latimer." 
He  then  goes  on  to  give  his  life  and  character. 
"  First,  this  viper's  bird  crept  out  of  the  towne 


264  CRANMER    A^D    HIS    TIMES. 

of  Beiy,  in  Suffolk,  and  was  brought  up  most 
part  of  his  youth  in  Cambridge,"  &c.  &c.  But 
it  is  unnecessary  to  enter  into  any  delineation  of 
the  character  of  Gardiner.  He  undoubtedly 
shares  the  fate  of  those  of  his  time,  of  having 
both  his  virtues  and  his  vices  exaggerated.  He 
has  been  accused  of  an  unrelenting  persecution 
towards  the  Protestants.  Others  say,  that  he 
only  meant,  by  a  few  examples,  to  strike  terror 
into  the  remainder,  and  was  glad  to  devolve  the 
invidious  office  on  Bonner.  We  can  conceive 
no  greater  cruelty  than  this,  if  he  knew  the  savage 
character  of  that  man. 

Cranmer,  alone  in  his  prison,  felt  a  desolation 
he  had  never  known  before.  No  mention  is  made 
of  his  wife  and  children  during  these  distressing 
circumstances.  Probably  he  had  thought  it  most 
prudent  to  send  them  to  Germany  ;  at  least,  it 
was  so  believed.  To  a  man  broken  down  by  im- 
prisonment and  cruelty,  and  with  the  sad  contem- 
plation of  his  fellow-sufferers,  who  had  already 
been  summoned  to  the  stake,  solitude  must  have 
been  grievous.  How  many  find  renewed  strength 
and  courage  in  the  sympathy  of  friends.  Cran- 
mer had  none.  No  one  of  his  own  faith  was  suf- 
fered to  approach  him,  and,  from  those  who  were 
permitted  to  converse  with  him,  he  heard  only 
details  of  the  horrible  sufferings  of  the  martyrs. 
His  whole  life  discovers  the  yieldingness  of  his 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  265 

nature.  When  he  resisted  what  he  thought  iniqui- 
tous, it  was,  no  doubt,  the  highest  effort  of  moral 
courage.  We  have  before  adverted  to  courage 
as  a  natural,  rather  than  an  acquired  gift.  It  is 
a  beautiful  and  noble  endowment,  when  united 
with  gentleness  and  justice  ;  but,  like  external 
advantages  of  beauty  or  elegance,  is  often  denied 
to  a  mortal.  Would  that  the  Archbishop  might 
have  been  spared  any  further  struggle  !  that  he 
might  have  been  executed  with  Ridley  and  Lati- 
mer ! 

From  the  degradation  which  they  had  endeav- 
oured to  heap  upon  Cranmer,  his  enemies  now 
changed  their  measures  to  an  opposite  course. 
They  felt  that  their  purpose,  so  far  from  being 
accomplished,  was,  in  a  manner,  defeated.  Hith- 
erto, the  triumph  was  his,  not  theirs. 

They  once  more  threw  open  his  prison-doors, 
and  invited  him  to  come  forth  under  the  broad 
canopy  of  heaven.  Again  he  breathes  the  pure 
and  fresh  air,  and  feels  his  spirits  quickened  by 
the  natural  world.  What  a  change,  from  the 
darkness  and  gloom  of  his  confinement !  He 
was  invited  to  reside  with  the  Dean  of  Christ's 
Church,  and  parties  at  bowls  were  made  for  him, 
an  exercise  of  which  they  knew  him  to  be  fond. 
The  doctors  of  the  University  visited  him,  and 
sometimes  accosted  him  with  arguments  and  dis- 
putations, and  sometimes  with  flatteries  and  prom- 


266  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ises.    They  assured  him,  that,  by  only  setting  his 
name  to  a  piece  of  paper,  he  might  enjoy  his  for- 
mer dignities  and  honors.     They  represented  the 
yearning  of  Mary  towards  him,  her  recollections 
of  his  good  offices,  her  willingness  to  save  him, 
if  this  could  be   done  without  compromising  her 
own  professions  of  Catholic  faith  ;  but  she  said 
she   "  would  have    Cranmer    a   Catholic,  or  no 
Cranmer."     But  why  do  we  go  on.     All  this,  in 
a  healthy  and  firm  state  of  mind,  would  have  pro- 
duced  no    effect.     But  he  was  terrified,  bewil- 
dered, and   subdued.     The  paper  was  presented 
to  him,  and  a  pen  put  in  his  hand.     It  matters 
little  whether  he  read  it  or  not ;  with  a  trembling 
hand  he  wrote  his  name  in  the  presence  of  two 
Spanish   friars,  John  and  Richard.     Five  other 
separate    recantations    are    alleged    against    him. 
For  the  reasonings  and  mystery  on  the  subject, 
we  recommend  the  Appendix  to  Le  Bas's  "  Life 
of  Cranmer."      One  reflection  must  naturally  oc- 
cur ;  if  he  signed  the  first,  with  the  full  and  entire 
knowledge  of  its  contents,  why   should  they  re- 
quire five  more,  and  the  last  be  much  the  least 
explicit. 

Lingard  speaks  of  seven  recantations  signed  with 
his  name.  Yet  the  whole  of  this  transaction  was 
in  the  space  of  two  days.  We  may  suppose  him 
under  a  degree  of  mental  alienation,  brought  on 
by  want  of  firmness  and  resolution.     Or,  we  may 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  267 

conclude  with  the  Catholics,  that  the  recantation 
was  occasioned  by  the  fear  of  an  agonizing  death. 
To  us  it  matters  little.  It  was  extorted  from 
him  by  that  kind  of  force,  which  induces  a  victim 
to  lay  his  head  voluntarily  upon  the  block,  when 
brought  to  the  place  of  execution. 

It  appears  that  his  life  had  been  prolonged  only 
to  secure  the  recantation.  The  Queen  immedi- 
ately gave  orders  for  a  sermon  to  be  prepared  for 
his  burning.  This  haste  seems  to  be  a  strong 
proof,  that  they  doubted  their  power,  and  feared 
for  his  constancy  in  his  newly  adopted  faith. 

Saturday,  the  21st  of  March,  1556,  was  the 
day  appointed  for  his  death.  Many  had  assem- 
bled at  Oxford  to  witness  the  burning  of  the  re- 
claimed heretic.  The  morning,  however,  proved 
very  rainy,  and  he  was  therefore  conducted  first 
to  Saint  Mary's  Church,  instead  of  being  carried 
immediately  to  the  stake.  Crowds  had  already 
assembled  there,  to  hear  him  attest  with  his  last 
breath,  the  truth  of  the  Catholic  religion.  There 
was  a  solemn  and  impatient  expectation. 

Cranmer  entered  with  the  Mayor  and  Alder- 
men, and  many  other  gentlemen.  A  stage  was 
erected  for  him  opposite  the  pulpit,  that  all  the  ^  %& 
people  might  see  him.  In  vain  he  looked  around 
for  friends  and  adherents  ;  those  who  had  loved 
and  honored  him  for  the  noble  stand  he  had  taken 
in  the  Reformation,  were  weeping  for  his  fall  in 


268  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

places  ot  retirement,  and  mourning  for  the  dis- 
grace brought  on  their  cause. 

Cranmer  stood  with  his  eyes  cast  down,  and  his 
venerable  form  erect.  His  head  was  bald,  and 
his  long  white  beard  had  been  suffered  to  grow. 
His  figure  was  truly  apostolic,  and  well  might  the 
Romanists  exult  in  such  a  convert.  We  rejoice 
that  his  wife,  his  loving  Anne,  was  far  away  ;  for, 
however  distressing  her  suspense,  the  spectacle 
of  his  present  degradation  must  have  surpassed 
her  conjectures.  She,  whose  faith  had  been  first 
kindled  by  the  German  reformers,  who  remem- 
bered Luther  and  Justus  Jonas,  and  had  been  the 
hostess  of  Martin  Bucer,  the  guest  of  her  hus- 
band;—  she,  who  exulted  in  the  thought,  that  the 
glorious  Reformation,  begun  in  her  own  native 
Germany,  had  been  continued  and  had  triumphed 
in  England  through  her  own  husband,  —  she  might, 
in  her  dreams,  have  beheld  him  brought  to  the 
stake,  and  seen  the  flames  curling  round  him  ;  but 
no  fears  of  his  constancy  or  courage  mingled  with 
the  sad  vision.  Seldom  do  women  analyze  the 
characters  of  those  they  love  and  trust.  The 
very  gentleness  and  yielding  spirit  of  Cranmer, 
so  consonant  with  the  tenderness  of  domestic  life, 
and,  in  better  times,  so  becoming  a  minister  of 
Christ,  had  attached  her  the  more  deeply.  It  is 
far  easier  to  yield,  than  to  contend. 

We  wish  to  be  the  biographer,  not  the  apolo- 


CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES.  269 

gist  of  the  Archbishop  ;  and  we  see,  in  his  mild, 
amiable,  and  Christian-like  character,  a  weakness 
of  resolution,  that  led  him  into  error.  His  first 
purposes  were  almost  invariably  correct,  but  op- 
position and  persuasion  led  him  to  change  them. 
This  we  see  too  often  in  every-day  life,  and  we 
are  apt  to  attribute  a  degree  of  virtue,  especially 
in  the  female  character,  to  this  yielding  disposi- 
tion. The  consequence  is,  that,  when  such  char- 
acters occasionally  make  a  desperate  stand,  their 
weapon  is  obstinacy  ;  they  dare  not  trust  to  the 
rational  convictions  of  their  own  minds. 

We  have  seen  Cranmer  resolutely  opposing 
the  arbitrary  will  of  Henry,  in  the  bill  of  the  six 
articles,  and  in  the  appropriation  of  Catholic 
spoils  ;  and  here  his  cause  was  a  noble  one. 
We  have  seen  him  yielding  to  the  persuasions  of 
Counsellors  and  Doctors,  in  the  case  of  Lady 
Jane  Gray,  when  his  convictions  were  wholly 
against  their  arguments,  and  it  was  weakness  to 
yield.  And  we  have  seen  him  obstinate  in  con- 
demning the  miserable  Jane  Bocher  to  the  stake, 
and  resisting  the  mild  and  humane  opposition  of 
Edward,  and,  as  we  fully  believe,  the  pleadings 
of  his  own  heart. 

How  much  we  may  do  to  obviate  this  weak- 
ness and  infirmity  of  character,  it  is  difficult  to  de- 
cide ;  and  it  becomes  us  to  be  mild  and  charitable 
towards  others,  and  to  leave  the  decision,  where  it 


270  CRANMER   AND    HIS    TIMES. 

must  eventually  rest,  with  Him  who  judgeth  the 
heart. 

But  we  must  return  to  the  Archbishop.  He 
stood  immovable  for  a  short  time  ;  at  length  his 
tears  could  no  longer  be  restrained,  and,  turning 
to  a  pillar  adjoining,  as  if  to  hide  emotions  in 
which  there  was  no  human  being  present  to  sym- 
pathize, he  knelt  down,  lifting  his  hands  and  eyes 
to  heaven,  and  prayed  fervently. 

When  he  arose,  Dr.  Cole,  who  had  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  Queen,  began  his  sermon.  He 
first  declared,  why  it  was  expedient  that  Cran- 
mer  should  suffer  at  the  stake,  recurring  to  his 
agency  in  the  divorce  of  Henry  and  Catharine, 
but  alleged  that  he  did  not  believe  it  was  done  in 
malice.  Another  cause  was,  his  being  the  setter 
forth  of  heresy  in  the  kingdom,  &c.  He  then 
went  on  to  inform  the  audience,  u  how  they 
should  consider  this  thing,  and  take  example  to 
fear  God,  as  they  saw  there  was  no  power  could 
stand  against  the  Lord  ;  having  before  their  eyes 
a  man  of  so  high  degree,  sometime  one  of  the 
chiefest  prelates  of  the  church,  an  Archbishop, 
the  head  of  the  Council,  the  second  Peer  of  the 
realm  a  long  time,  a  man  who  might  be  thought 
in  greatest  assurance,  a  king  of  his  side  ;  not- 
withstanding all  his  authority  and  defence  to  be 
debased  from  an  high  estate  to  a  low  degree  ; 
from  a  Counsellor  to  be  a  caitiff ;  and  to  be  set  in 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  271 

so  wretched  estate,  that  the  poorest  wretch  would 
not  change  conditions  with  him."  He  then  ad- 
dressed Cranmer,  whom  he  encouraged  u  to  take 
his  death  well,  by  many  passages  in  Scripture, 
such  as  the  thief  to  whom  Christ  said,  c  This  day 
shalt  thou  be  with  me  in  Paradise  ' ;  by  the  exam- 
ple of  the  three  children,  to  whom  God  made 
the  flame  seem  like  a  pleasant  dew.  He  spoke 
of  the  rejoicing  of  St.  Andrew,  of  the  patience  of 
St.  Lawrence  on  the  fire.  He  glorified  much  in 
his  conversion,  because  it  was  evidently  the  work 
of  God.  He  told  him  he  should  be  prayed  for 
in  every  church  in  Oxford,  and  have  mass  said, 
and  dirges  sung,  for  his  soul."  When  he  ended, 
he  desired  all  the  people  to  pray  for  him.  They 
all  knelt,  and  Cranmer  with  them. 

What  must  have  been  the  sensations  of  Cran- 
mer through  this  heart-rending  address  !  They 
were  visible  in  his  countenance,  which,  a  specta- 
tor says,  "  was  sorrowful  and  heavy,  his  face  be- 
dewed with  tears,  which  all  present  believed  to 
be  those  of  contrition  for  his  past  offences  to  the 
Catholic  Church." 

When  the  people  rose,  Cranmer  rose  too,  and 
said  he  thanked  them  most  heartily  for  their 
prayers,  and  then  requested  leave  to  pray  for 
himself,  which  he  did  most  fervently,  imploring 
the  mercy  of  God.  He  concluded  by  repeating 
the  Lord's  Prayer.     Then,  rising,  he  said,  cc  Ev- 


272  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

ery  man  desireth  good  people  at  the  time  of  their 
deaths  to  give  some  exhortation,  that  others  may- 
remember  after  their  deaths,  and  be  better  thereby. 
So  I  beseech  God  grant  me  grace,  that  I  may 
speak  something  at  my  departing,  whereby  God 
may  be  glorified,  and  you  edified.  He  then  pi- 
ously admonished  them  not  to  lay  too  much  stress 
on  the  honors  or  riches  of  the  world,  and  repre- 
sented the  wants  and  sufferings  of  the  poor,  pro- 
visions being  so  dear.  "For,  though  I  have 
been  long  in  prison,  yet  I  have  heard  of  the 
great  penury  of  the  poor.  Consider  that  which 
is  given  to  the  poor,  as  given  to  God."  He  then 
expressed  his  creed. 

Still,  there  was  nothing  to  startle  the  audience, 
who  waited  impatiently  for  him  to  openly  repeat 
his  recantation.  He  paused.  Not  a  sound  could 
be  heard  ;  every  eye  was  fixed  upon  him,  either 
in  hope  or  exultation.     His  tears  flowed  anew. 

"  And  now  I  come,"  he  continued,  "  to  the 
great  thing  that  troubleth  my  conscience  more 
than  any  other  thing  that  I  ever  said  or  did  through 
life.  And  that  is,  setting  abroad  of  writings, 
contrary  to  the  truth  ;  which  here  I  renounce  and 
refuse,  as  things  written  with  my  hand,  contrary 
to  the  truth  ;  which  I  wrote  for  fear  of  death  and 
to  save  my  life,  if  it  might  be.  And  that  is,  all 
such  bills,  which  I  have  written  or  signed  with 
mine  own  hand,  since  my  degradation  ;  wherein 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  273 

I  have  written  many  things  untrue.  And,  foras- 
much as  my  hand  offended  in  writing,  contrary  to 
my  heart,  therefore,  my  hand  shall  first  be  pun- 
ished. For,  if  I  may  come  to  the  fire,  it  shall  be 
first  burned.  And  as  for  the  Pope,  I  refuse  him, 
as  Christ's  enemy  and  Antichrist,  with  all  his  false 
doctrine." 

We  may  suppose  the  astonishment  and  con- 
sternation which  prevailed,  as  soon  as  their 
tongues  were  loosed.  They  charged  him  with 
dissembling.  "  Alas,  my  Lords,"  said  he,  "  I 
have  all  my  life  been  a  man  that  loved  plainness, 
and  never  dissembled  till  now  against  the  truth, 
which  I  am  most  sorry  for." 

He  might  have  gone  on,  for  he  now  appeared 
like  a  new  man  :  the  brightness  of  his  eye  re- 
turned, the  faint  color  rose  to  his  pale  cheek,  the 
tears  no  longer  fell.  It  seemed  as  if  the  load  was 
taken  from  his  heart.     The  inner  man  triumphed. 

Again  he  attempted  to  speak,  but  the  zealous 
friars  rushed  forward,  and  tore  him  from  the  stage. 
As  they  conducted  him  to  the  stake,  the  populace 
ran  after  him,  exhorting  him,  "  while  time  was,  to 
remember  himself."  He  walked  silently  on,  and, 
when  he  arrived  at  the  stake,  his  face  seemed  ra- 
diant with  faith  and  hope.  There  were  no  symp- 
toms of  the  irresolution  that  had  marked  his  char- 
acter. They  saw,  that,  to  urge  the  recantation 
again,  was  hopeless,  and  the  friars  said  in  Latin, 

18 


274  CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES. 

one  to  another,  "  Let  us  go  from  him  ;  we  ought 
not  to  be  near  him,  for  the  Devil  is  with  him." 

He  proceeded  to  divest  himself  of  his  outer 
garments,  leaving  only  his  shirt,  which  was  long, 
reaching  to  his  feet.  He  then  offered  his  hand  to 
those  who  stood  near.  One  again  cried  to  him, 
to  agree  to  his  former  recantation.  "  This,"  said 
Cranmer,  "  is  the  hand  that  wrote  it ;  and,  there- 
fore, it  shall  first  suffer  punishment." 

The  faggots  were  placed  around  him,  and  fire 
set  to  them.  As  it  crackled  and  arose,  the  wind 
blew  it  on  one  side.  With  a  calm,  fervent  aspect, 
his  face  appeared  lighted  by  the  flames,  as  that 
of  Moses  is  described  upon  the  mount.  He 
stretched  forth  his  hand.  "  This  is  the  hand  that 
offended,"  said  he  ;  and,  deliberately  placing  it  in 
the  flames,  stood  unmoved,  uttering  no  groan,  and 
not  discovering  by  his  countenance  any  sensibility 
to  pain.  The  flames  kindled  round  him.  More 
than  once  he  was  heard  to  say,  "  Lord  Jesus, 
receive  my  soul  !  " 

We  know  that  Cranmer  has  been  severely 
judged  by  his  fellow-men  for  his  recantations, 
while  the  most  candid  have  thought  they  gained 
something  by  endeavouring  to  prove,  that  he  wrote 
but  one,  and  that  the  others  were  forged.  It  is 
not  surprising  that  Catholics  should  triumph  in  his 
weakness,  and  exclaim,  "  This  is  the  man,"  &c. 
But  shall  we  refuse  him  our  sympathy  at  this  try- 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  275 

ing  time,  when,  probably,  the  recollection,  that  he 
had  been  instrumental  to  a  similar  death  in  others, 
wrought  his  frame  to  agony.  Who  does  not  feel, 
that  love  of  life  is  one  of  the  strongest  principles 
of  our  nature  ;  and  who  does  not  shrink  from 
death,  even  under  the  most  alleviating  circum- 
stances ?  Surrounded  by  an  affectionate  house- 
hold, the  hand  fast  locked  in  the  hand  of  a  friend, 
and  the  soul  borne  upwards  on  the  wings  of  fer- 
vent and  devout  prayer,  yet,  there  is  still  a  fear- 
ful looking  forward  to  the  final  moment,  to  the 
last  death-struggle.  But,  when  the  soul  is  to  be 
separated  from  the  body  by  lingering  torments,  is 
it  strange  that  the  inward  man  should  faint  and 
perish  in  the  conflict  ? 

There  have  been  men,  nay,  women,  too,  so 
constituted,  that  they  have  sung  "hosannas  of 
glad  joy,"  while  the  flames  were  curling  round 
them.  Others  have  yielded,  for  a  time,  to  the 
insanity  of  terror,  and,  under  its  influence,  felt 
that  exemption  from  torture  could  hardly  be  ob- 
tained too  dearly. 

Jerome  of  Prague,  one  of  the  most  zealous 
of  the  early  reformers,  rushed  into  danger  to  save 
his  friend,  John  Huss.  Finding  he  came  too 
late,  that  the  sentence  had  been  pronounced  and 
executed,  and  his  ashes  thrown  into  the  Rhine, 
he  felt  himself  compelled  by  prudence  to  return 
to  Bohemia.     On  the  road,  he  was  arrested  and 


276  CRANMER  AND  HIS  TIMES. 

sent  back  to  Constance.  "  At  his  first  appear- 
ance, a  thousand  voices  exclaimed  ;  '  Away  with 
him  !  Burn  him,  burn  him  !  '  Consigned  to  the 
horrors  of  a  lonely  and  protracted  imprisonment, 
in  a  noxious  dungeon,"  he  yielded  to  that  weak- 
ness, which  springs  from  nervous  distress,  and 
made  a  temporary  submission.  But,  when  re- 
stored to  the  light  and  air  of  heaven,  his  spirit 
grew  strong,  his  feverish  and  fluttering  pulse  re- 
sumed its  calm  and  regular  movement,  the  insani- 
ty passed  away,  his  faith  and  fortitude  returned, 
and,  like  his  friend  Huss,  he  died  a  martyr  and  a 
hero. 

Let  us  remember  the  agony  of  him,  who,  in 
the  garden,  prayed  that,  "  if  it  were  possible,  the 
cup  might  pass  from  him  "  ;  and,  amidst  these 
sunny  days,  when  we  may  go  in  glad  throngs  to  the 
house  of  God,  when  we  are  not  called  to  "weep 
by  the  rivers  of  Babylon,"  or  u  hang  our  harps 
upon  the  willows,"  let  us  try  to  place  ourselves, 
for  a  moment,  in  the  situation  of  Cranmer.  Who 
will  not  tremble  for  his  own  fortitude  ?  who  will 
not  fear,  that,  like  Peter,  he  may  deny  and  weep  ? 
Let  not  the  weakness  of  human  nature  destroy 
our  sympathies,  but,  rather,  prove  a  bond  to 
bind  its,  who  share  it,  closer  to  each  other  ;  to 
make  us  more  charitable,  more  patient,  and  more 
ready  to  forgive.  So  shall  the  old  world  and 
the   new,    Catholics    and    Protestants,    find    one 


CRANMER    AND    HIS    TIMES.  277 

common  bond  of  relationship  ;  and,  while  they 
conscientiously  adhere  to  what  they  believe  to 
be  the  true  faith,  remember,  that  there  is  but 
one  God,  and  one  Father  over  all. 


THE    END. 


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